Drink-drivers, police pursuits pose 'threat' to other road users

As part of a state-wide operation to crack down on dangerous driving, police have been out conducting random breath tests and monitoring car speeds to keep the roads safe.

Acting Inspector Benjamin Smith said it was extremely disappointing to see a handful of people choose to ignore the right thing to do. He added that police had engaged in three pursuits - in Junee, Tumut and Wagga - as drivers failed to follow directions to stop.

"After the one at Tumut [on Sunday morning], we have a man in custody after attending an address shortly after the incident," Inspector Smith said. "We will continue to deploy in high numbers."

In a separate incident, a woman more than four times over the legal blood-alcohol limit was caught driving in Estella. About 1.10am on Saturday, officers from Riverina Highway Patrol stopped a car travelling on Colin Knott Drive for a random breath test.

The driver, a 48-year-old woman, returned a positive result and was taken to Wagga Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.201.

The woman was issued with a court attendance notice for high-range PCA, and she is due to appear at Wagga Local Court next year. Her licence was also suspended.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The 48-year-old woman was not the only case of drink-driving on the region's roads with at least three other drivers caught by police.

About 12:55am on Friday, officers from the Murrumbidgee Police District observed a 23-year-old man riding an unregistered motorcycle along Macarthur Street, Griffith where it collided with a gutter.

The rider produced a learner driver's licence and was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result.

He was arrested and taken to Griffith Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.163.

The man was issued a court attendance notice for high-range PCA, unlicensed for class, use an unregistered registerable motor vehicle and use an uninsured motor vehicle. He is due to appear at Griffith Local Court on February 10, and his licence was also suspended.

In another drink-driving incident at 3.30pm on Thursday, police were called to Burley Griffin Way at Stockinbingal after a Mitsubishi van lost control and left the roadway, crashing on its side.

The driver, a 25-year-old man from Cabramatta, was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

IN OTHER NEWS:

He was taken to Cootamundra Police Station where a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.175.

He was issued a court attendance notice for a high-range PCA and appears at court on February 1. His licence was also suspended.

Inspector Smith said any drivers doing the wrong thing, whether it's using their phone, speeding or driving under the influence, will be caught.

"We are in a few days into the operation, and we haven't had a fatality in the Riverina Police District yet," he said.

"Hopefully we can get to the end of the year without any more fatalities."

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb, said it was disappointing to see people were still taking risks on the road.

"It's concerning to see people behaving irresponsibly and putting their own, and other people's lives at risk, speeding or driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol," she said.

"It's also a timely reminder that people should have a Plan B if they are celebrating with alcohol and make sure to have a designated driver.

"We also want to stress again, and again that road users should prioritise arriving safely, and not quickly."

Double-demerit points are in force throughout the current police operation for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences. The state-wide road-safety crackdown will conclude on January 3 at 11.59pm.