Holiday traffic
There has been a marked drop in traffic accidents around Braidwood over the Christmas and New Year period.
There has been a marked drop in traffic accidents around Braidwood over the Christmas and New Year period.
A “Don’t Rush” campaign to slow people down by the Kings Highway Road Safety Partnership along with the new lower speed zones on the approaches to Braidwood may have been factors in this reduction of accidents.
One of the few reported accidents was on 27th December when a crash on the Kings Highway caused delays to traffic about 15km east of Braidwood. Two people were injured in the single car accident and NSW ambulance officers attended the scene. A 5 year old is still under treatment from the accident and police are looking at fatigue as a causal factor.
Sargent Dominic Goodyer from Monaro Command said from the 19th December start of the ‘Safe Arrival Operation’ until yesterday Monaro Police had carried out 7700 breath tests resulting in 10 PCA charges and another 16 traffic charges.
There were 362 Speed infringement notices and 148 other traffic offences, with 17 unlicensed drivers detected and 29 unregistered motor vehicles.
Sgt Goodyer said “generally traffic flowed freely on the Kings Highway over the period, with no major constrictions. With the ‘tidal movements’ people were very well behaved.”
“As always we advise people to slow down and take another ten minutes with the journey, be patient and courteous and above all plan you trip” said Sgt Goodyer.
Operation ‘Safe Return” will be in place over the Australia Day Long weekend with extra Police presence on the Kings highway.
The ACT recorded one fatality on its roads during Operation Crossroads, which saw ACT Policing join forces with NSW Police Monaro Local Area Command over the Christmas-New Year period.
The ACT recorded its second lowest road toll since 1959 with just seven deaths in 2013.
During Operation Crossroads in which double demerit penalties applied, ACT Policing conducted 9,128 breath tests and 58 roadside drug tests. Twenty eight drivers were apprehended for drink-driving, and eight drivers were found to be influenced by drugs.