NSW Police Step Up Presence On North Coast With Operation Cross

NSW Police are launching a major traffic enforcement campaign on the state's North Coast in an effort to curb a significant increase in fatalities in the region.

There have been 69 people killed on Northern Region roads this year, with 18 lives lost on Coffs/Clarance roads (up from 11 in 2009) and 12 deaths on Mid North Coast roads (nine more than the same period last year).

Operation Cross will see an increased police presence to the affected areas in a month-long campaign, targeting speeding, drink-driving, restraint and mobile phone offences.

In the past week, police in the area have detected five drink-driving offences, 127 speeding offences and ten seatbelt offences.

“It’s evident many motorists are ignoring our road safety messages,” Acting Northern Region Traffic Coordinator, Acting Senior Sergeant Jodie Hamilton said.

“In the last few days alone, police have caught a large number of motorists endangering themselves and others by drink-driving or speeding."

Acting Snr Sgt Hamilton said that motorists can expect a highly-visible police presence on the Pacific Highway and other local roads, including Waterfall Way, Summerland Way, Orara Way and the Gwydir and Oxley Highways.