Local Highway Patrol Officers Senior Constable Kelvin Jubb, Senior Constable Melanie Maguire, Senior Con- stable Nicholas White, Senior Constable Katherine Ellis, Senior Constable Nadia Batten and Sergeant Martin Ling.
Motorists are reminded to drive safely and to remember that double demerits are in place for 13 days over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Double demerits start today, Friday, 20th December and run through to New Year’s Day on Wednesday, 1st January (inclusive) and apply for all speeding, seat belt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences.
Drivers caught using their phones can expect to be hit with a fine and up to 10 demerits. As today is still a gazetted school day, double demerits will apply to relevant school zone offences.
“The message is clear: Don’t drive tired. Don’t text while driving. Don’t drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Don’t drive without a seatbelt fastened,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor.
“We want everyone to have a happy and safe Christmas with their families – please obey the road rules and drive safely.”
According to NSW Police’s Central West Highway Patrol Sergeant Martin Ling there is a 30% reduction in casualty crashes when double demerit points are in play.
All Police cars are a mobile random breath and drug testing unit. In Central West Police District the focus will be on back roads and regional roads.