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Many NSW drivers caught offending over Easter break

Easter weekend is always a busy one on NSW roads, with many taking advantage of the long break to head away for a few days.

With more road congestion comes the risk of more accidents however, and NSW police report that there were 659 major crashes during the long weekend.

Three people were killed and a further 225 suffered injuries as a result.

NSW police conducted a road safety operation over the Easter break, titled Operation Tortoise.

They targeted speeding drivers, drink-drivers and those not wearing seatbelts, conducting a total of 245,519 random breath tests.

As a result they booked 5,687 drivers for speeding offences, charged 302 motorists with drink driving, and issued a further 8,844 infringement notices for other offences.

The number of speeding drivers caught was 111 more than the same operation last year, which Traffic and Highway Patrol Command superintendent Stuart Smith says is alarming.

“For us it means an extra 111 families can take some comfort that their loved one was intercepted by police and made it home in one piece,” said Mr Smith in an April 2 statement.

He noted that many drivers were caught driving while disqualified or in cars which were unregistered or uninsured.

“Quite clearly drivers are failing in their most basic of responsibilities which is a significant risk to the community,” said Mr Smith.

The recent cabinet reshuffling in the federal government saw Catherine King named as the new minister for road safety.

It was a move applauded by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), with executive director Andrew McKellar saying that a dedicated portfolio responsible for road safety would provide important leadership on this critical issue.

“With more than 1,300 people dying and 30,000 seriously injured on Australian roads each year it is clear that road safety needs to be a key government priority,” said Mr McKellar in a March 25 statement.

In her own statement ahead of the Easter break, Ms King reminded drivers to take care on the roads and reiterated the government’s aims.

“Through the [National Road Safety Strategy 2011-20], our target is to reduce the annual numbers of both deaths and serious injuries on our roads by at least 30 per cent by 2020,” said Ms King in a statement issued on March 28.

If you are injured as a result of a road accident in NSW, you may be entitled to car accident compensation for medical costs, legal fees, loss of income or more.

Talking to the experts at a car accident law firm is the best way to understand your entitlements under this area of law.

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