A truckie has been caught on camera holding his mobile phone while driving along a busy Illawarra motorway, with police warning motorists to "break out of your bubble" and be more aware of their surroundings this holiday long weekend.
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The distracted truck driver - with his headphones in and a phone in his left hand - was spotted travelling at speed on the M1 Princes Motorway, north of Yallah, on Wednesday morning.
Police were alerted to the truckie's illegal behaviour after someone in a passing vehicle snapped a photo and messaged it to the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Facebook page.
According to police, the person who took the picture reported the driver was doing 120km/h as he overtook their vehicle.
The signposted speed limit on that section of motorway is 100km/h, as is the maximum speed for vehicles with a gross mass of more than 4.5 tonnes.
The truck had also, moments earlier, travelled through the 80km/h roadwork zone in effect for the Albion Park Rail bypass.
Police have contacted the truck's operator; a Victorian-based business with offices across regional NSW. The driver faces a $337 fine and five demerit points.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Chief Inspector Phil Brooks said the incident highlighted the risks on our roads.
"As you can see in the photograph, his eyes are off the road, he's concentrating on whatever platform that he's looking at, as opposed to concentrating on that very important driving task," Ch Insp Brooks said.
Police regularly get tip-offs via Facebook, the officer said, and technology - like dashcams and passengers' phones - capturing offenders was "the future of road safety".
"Other road users won't tolerate poor driver behaviour, which is why they take these photos and post them to our messaging service on Facebook in the hope we can take some action," he said.
"Sadly with the road toll at 165, personal responsibility is a critical factor on the part of all road users to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe."
The incident happened just before the June long weekend double-demerit period. Operation Stay Alert runs from 12.01am on Friday to 11.59pm on Monday.
Police across NSW will be targeting all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said the majority of the 165 people who've lost their lives on the state's roads so far this year were men.
"Speeding or drink driving doesn't make you more of a man - nor does risking the life of your mates or those you love," Asst Comm Corboy said.
"I am renewing our appeal to passengers, regardless of where you are sitting in the vehicle, to call the driver out on their behaviour."
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Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
