THE region’s longest-running police blitz on South Coast roads resulted in more than 300 motorists being fined over six weeks.
Strike Force Consequence involved Traffic and Highway Command police from other areas blanketing roads from Gerringong to Batemans Bay.
Police conducted 6664 random breath tests, issued 339 traffic infringements, laid 15 traffic and four criminal charges.
Shoalhaven Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Kelly Thomas, who headed up the operation, said while the statistics spoke for themselves, he believed it was the motorists talking about the operation that would make the biggest difference reducing road trauma in the Shoalhaven.
“During the operation we had that many highway patrol cars on the region’s roads stopping anything on wheels,” he said.
“There was a lot of talk among people and on social media about these new police officers, with no sense of humour, fining people for everything from not using their blinkers to having an illegally modified vehicle.
“It was about being out there and being seen.”
The operation was considered so successful plans are under way to repeat it in other areas around NSW.
Leading Senior Constable Thomas warned motorists not to become complacent on Shoalhaven roads.
He said complacency behind the wheel was the cause of many collisions.
He encouraged motorists to treat driving with the seriousness it deserves.
“Familiarity with local roads is a problem in the Shoalhaven and the complacency that comes with it is a mindset we have to reverse,” he said.
“Think of a section of each road the same way you did when you drove on it for the first time.
“As people drive on the same road 20 times or more they tend to fall into that complacency and while it’s not deliberate it can have disastrous consequences.
“Add to that drugs, alcohol or a vehicle malfunction and you’ve got a dangerous cocktail,” he said.
Police will be targeting complacent drivers and warned more people would be stopped for minor infringements.
