RIVERINA police are praising driver behaviour, with no fatalities recorded on the district's roads during the holiday period.
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A state-wide road safety operation has resulted in a higher presence of police on regional roads, who have targeted unsafe driving and alcohol-fuelled crime during the Easter long weekend.
Operation Tortoise started on Thursday and will end at midnight, tonight.
Riverina Police District Inspector Peter McLay said he was pleased that no major accidents occurred on the district's roads.
Last year, an elderly driver died on a Riverina road near Jindera during the long weekend.
"It is certainly pleasing to see no fatalities recorded. But, we are still working towards keeping those numbers down," he said.
Inspector McLay said police conducted hundreds of random breath tests as part of the road safety operation.
While majority of drivers were abiding, he said there was a number of drivers charged with drink driving.
"It is important to reinforce the message that if people want to drink, then do not drive," he said. "Police conducted hundreds of RBTs and we found majority are doing the right thing."
Other offences recorded during the five-day operation included people driving without, or with a disqualified, license.
The exact figures for Operation Tortoise will be released tomorrow after the operation was finished.
Double demerit points have been in place during the operation, which applied to speeding, mobile phone use, seat belts and motorcycle helmet offences.
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Inspector McLay said the effectiveness of double demerit points was unknown.
"Some people just do not pay attention to the consequences, and they will go ahead and do it regardless of the outcome," he said.
Another road safety operation will follow on from the Easter long weekend period.
Operation Go Slow will start on Wednesday, targeting unsafe driving, alcohol and drug driving and the use of distraction devices such as mobile phones.
Inspector McLay said the community could expect a high presence of police on district roads to continue through to Sunday.
He said double demerits will apply from Wednesday to Sunday.
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