NSW Police 24-Hour Blitz Nabs Nearly 1100 Using Mobiles While Driving

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Dec 4, 2009
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conducted over 24 hours by NSW Police on Wednesday saw 1059 motorists caught talking or texting on their mobile phones while driving.

Titled 'Operation Compliance Six', the blitz formed part of a crackdown on both speeding and mobile phone offences, with 1350 issued speeding infringements over a 24-hour period.

Of the 2409 offenders, 422 were P-platers and 94 were driving unregistered vehicles.

 

“The state’s road toll stands at 429 and, despite all our warnings, it would seem there are motorists out there intent on acting up behind the wheel and risk themselves becoming the next statistic,” Traffic Services Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said.

“To have 2409 people caught speeding or using their phone in a single day is an absolute disgrace,” he said.

 

Radar While the majority of the blitz's mobile phone infringements were issued on metropolitan Sydney roads, most of the speeding fines went to motorists in regional and rural areas.

Motorists within Botany Bay (59), Penrith (42), Surry Hills (39), Sutherland (37) and Harbourside (36) Local Area Commands recorded the most mobile phone infringements, while Monaro (115), Fairfield (92), Lake Macquarie (56), Coffs/Clarence (51) and Central Hunter (50) Local Area Commands performed worst for speeding offences.

 

“There is surely no phone call worth losing your life for – if your phone rings, ignore it or stop your vehicle in a safe location before picking up,” Mr Hartley said.

“It only takes a momentary lapse of concentration for things to turn deadly and you cannot be fully concentrating on what you’re doing behind the wheel of your car if you’re chatting on the phone or typing an SMS.”

 

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Comments

  • Mick [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I see many semi-trailer drivers talking on mobile phones these days.
    A few years back it would have been a CB.

    Does anyone know the legal position on talking on a CB while driving
    these days.
  • Golfschwein [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Good! Red lights next please fellas.
  • Ellimist [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I agree with Book 'em, in a cradle hands free or get em off the road. should be no need to talk on the phone while in the car. mine goes on airport mode when i drive so i don't even get calls.
  • Peter [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Are you lot aware that police are allowed to operate mobile phones while THEY drive? I see them doing it all the time, I guess being a police officer makes you immune to loss of concentration while talking on a mobile phone. Maybe they should be allowed to drive around drunk as well since they obviously have super human abilities behind the wheel that regular motorists do not.

    Perhaps they should pass a law requiring all drivers to stare at the speedo and have both hands glued to the wheel the entire time they're driving. Seems to be the only way you could avoid becoming a victim of government revenue raising these days.
  • Tony D [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I wonder if any of those are people doing things like using their iPhones as GPS in a cradle mount, since that's breaking the law depending on who is reading the rules at the time...

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