Riverina police will be targeting illegal behaviour on roads as the region prepares to celebrate the long weekend.
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Acting Inspector Brett Collins said officers will be stationed across the region for Operation Queen's Birthday between 12am Friday and midnight Monday.
"Double demerits will be enforced," he said.
"We will be looking out for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences. Police are also targeting drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving."
Inspector Collins said one of the main concerns for police of late has been fatigue-related incidents.
"These happen between 2pm and 5pm on a day, so we ask people to plan ahead and take personal responsibility," he said.
Inspector Collins said they would also be on the lookout for people using their mobiles illegally.
Transport for NSW revealed that about one in every 303 drivers checked in the Riverina region between March 1 and April 30, 2021 were issued a penalty notice.
The offence rate of 0.33 per cent across the Riverina region is higher than the state average of 0.22 per cent of drivers detected illegally using a mobile phone.
There are rules from Transport for NSW to keep in mind so as to not get caught out and have to pay a hefty fine when it comes to using phones in the car.
Unrestricted licence holders can make or receive audio phone calls, but the phone has to be secured in a cradle fixed to the vehicle or operated without touching it (e.g. Bluetooth controls).
Functions including video calling, texting, emailing, social media, web browsing and photography are prohibited unless parked for all drivers.
Learners and p-plate drivers cannot use their phone for any reason, including as a GPS or hands-free.
Drivers who access their digital licence before they are requested to do so by police is committing an offence.
All drivers, including p-platers and learners, can use wallet functions of their phone if the vehicle is stationary and off the road, such as in a carpark, driveway or drive thru.
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