SPEEDING and two deaths on local roads have marred a long weekend police blitz which also saw several drivers lose their licences.
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More than 200 people were slapped with hefty fines and demerit point losses after they were caught speeding in the New England North West during Operation Tortoise.
"That is 200 extra people putting everyone else's lives at risk by speeding," Oxley Highway Patrol Sergeant Michael Buko said.
The police blitz, which was launched to cover the long weekend, wrapped up at midnight on Monday, but police were disappointed.
"There was a trend of P-platers driving around after 11pm with more than one passenger, and that resulted in every single P-plater losing their licence because of the loss of demerit points," Sergeant Buko said.
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"One P-plater was stopped by highway patrol officers in South Tamworth on Friday night with seven unrestrained passengers after 11pm and he lost his licence as a result and was issued with more than $1400 in fines."
Across the Peel Cluster, which takes in the Oxley and New England police districts, by midday on Monday, more than 4,660 RBT's had been conducted.
Two people were caught drink driving, 298 drivers were subjected to roadside drug tests with 21 testing positive to drugs like cannabis and amphetamine roadside.
Eight people were charged with licence offences, six were slapped with tickets for using their mobile phone behind the wheel and 16 seatbelt-related infringements were handed out by police.
Another 140 tickets were issued for various offences.
Two men were killed in separate crashes on the outskirts of Tamworth and Inverell on Thursday night and Saturday morning.
A 34-year-old man, behind the wheel of the oncoming car in the fatal near Tamworth remains in a serious but stable condition in John Hunter Hospital with multiple injuries.
"It's very sad that two people have lost their lives and the circumstances are still under investigation," Sergeant Buko said.
"Police are out there trying to reduce the road toll, and we saw a drop in drink driving offences but sadly, too many people are still speeding and not wearing a seatbelt or driving round with passengers late at night, in contravention to their licence restrictions."
Double demerits will be back in force at midnight on Tuesday for the Anzac Day weekend roads operation.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
