Friday 9 June 2017

Double Demerits in action until Monday

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are urging drivers to slow down, stay safe and not to take risks on the Hunter's roads this long weekend, with double demerits in force until midnight on Monday.

Operation Stay Safe will see officers target speeding, seat belt, motorcycle helmet and phone use behind the wheel.

It's only June, but so far the death toll on NSW roads stands at 161.

Chief Inspector of Highway Patrol Phillip Brooks says the wet weather this week and heading into the weekend is making for particularly unfavourable conditions.

"We're urging all road users to please take extra care, we're expecting more traffic on our roads and with significant rainfall right throughout the NSW road network roads will be slippery - people approaching flooded causeways should pull over, wait for that flooded causeway to recede and continue safely on their journey."

Last year's June long weekend saw 131 people injured and four people lost their lives on the state's roads and police are determined that won't be the case come next week.

You may not think you're being watched on the weekend, but you certainly will be.

"We'll have all available 1,350 highway patrol staff and over 500 vehicles on our roads working very closely with general duty police performing speed enforcement, random breath testing and random drug testing all in an effort to drive down the road toll," said Chief Inspector Brooks.