THE Easter weekend did not start to well for irate motorists kept waiting in long queues at the intersection of the Golden and New England Highways.
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For people trying to turn right at the notorious intersection it was a matter of showing plenty of patience as traffic movement was reduced to a crawl resulting in a lengthy line up of vehicles waiting to head south.
NSW Police were conducting various checks on traffic entering the Golden Highway and during their two day operation at the site they issued 112 infringement notices.
Police also discovered two unlicenced firearms and conducted 600 random breath tests(RBTs).
Hunter Valley Highway Patrol’s, Sergeant Steve Mallam said police were happy with the results of that partiulcar rural crime operation saying what really pleased them was the fact people were ensuring if they headed west for a camping/hunting weekend their dogs were registered and their guns and other weapons were licenced and stored correctly.
What he was not happy about was the number of speeding infringement notices handed out during Operation Tortoise.
Operation Tortoise started at midnight Thursday and finished at mignight Monday and included double dermit points for any infringment.
“Our worst results occcured at the Golden and New England Highway intersection where sadly too many people heading north totally ignored the 80kpm, he said.
“It is well signed posted but we caught one driver doing 116kph.
“If someone comes out of the Golden Highway into their path they cannot stop - speeding at that intersection is extremely dangerous.”
Another site of major concern for the police was Broke Road between Broke and Cessnock where they caught two speeding drivers each from the Central Coast.
The first was doing 175kph and the other was doing 171kph. This resulted in them each receiving a fine of $2200 and on teh spot loss of licence for six months.
The number of speeding tickets issued for the three days was183 with another 212 tickets issued for various other infringments, 15 notices for wearing no seatbelt or not wearing it correctly and after carrying out 1400 RBTs three people were caught drink driving.
“‘This is a country road and I think people thought its some out of the way place where they can speed - no they can’t, “ Sgt Mllam said.
By comparison vehicles caught speeding on the brand spanking new Hunter Ex[pressway only reached speedof 130kph.
Sgt Mallam said due to the two consecutive long weekends there were currently five extra officers watching our local roads.
PICTURED: The traffic jam on the Golden Highway Thursday afternoon.
