Police have been left shaking their heads after three drivers put their children at risk with dangerous driver behaviour, including a driver caught in Kempsey, during Operation Safe Arrival.
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The woman in Kempsey was issued four traffic infringement notices after her SUV was stopped on Cochrane St, West Kempsey, at about 11.50am on Saturday.
The woman, who holds a P2 provisional drivers' licence, allegedly had three children - aged one, three and four - in the vehicle who were not properly restrained. She was also not displaying her P-plates. The woman was fined $1300 and received 20 demerit points.
During Operational Safe Arrival's ninth day, police were out in force targeting speeding, drink and drug-driving, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
In two other unrelated incidents, motorists were stopped for their alleged poor driving behaviour and were found to also have children in the car.
Just after 1am on Sunday, a sedan was stopped for a random breath test on Pittwater Road, Narrabeen, where the driver, a 34-year-old woman, allegedly returned a positive result.
Upon closer inspection of the vehicle, officers noticed a seven-year-old boy sitting in the rear passenger seat.
The woman was arrested and taken to Mona Vale Police Station for a breath analysis test, where she allegedly returned a reading of 0.171. Her licence was confiscated, and she was issued a Court Attendance Notice for high-range PCA.
In the third incident, police stopped a 39-year-old male driver in Moree at about 4.15pm on Saturday. The man allegedly had four children unrestrained in the vehicle. He was issued four traffic infringement notices for drive with child passenger unrestrained, totalling $1376 in fines and 39 demerit points.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, stressed the importance of motorists following the road rules and thinking of other road users to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely.
"This reckless behaviour we're seeing on our roads - particularly driving with unrestrained children in cars - is very troubling for police," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"While, thankfully, these drivers were stopped before anyone was injured, their actions could have resulted in very serious consequences very quickly.
"To say that our officers are disappointed is an understatement. People need to realise that your choices as a driver do not just affect yourself but everyone else on the road."
Operation Safe Arrival began on Friday December 20 2019 and will run until 11.59pm on Wednesday, January 1 2020.
