NSW Police are cracking down on reckless young drivers by launching a blitz on Sydney roads, after two recent crashes claimed young lives.
So far this year 241 people have died on NSW roads, which is 33 per cent higher than the same time last year.
Police ran Operation Katana over the past weekend to target speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone and other traffic offences.
Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said they were particularly targeting young men, who have caused a large number of serious and deadly crashes in recent times.
“Taking drugs, drinking alcohol, driving a car, speeding, dangerous driving, it’s unacceptable,” Pisanos said.
He said they had seen an increase in young people driving 30km/h over the speed limit.
It comes after Alina Kauffman, 24, was picking up her 15-year-old brother Ernesto Salazar from work just after 9pm on Friday when a black Mercedes crashed into their car metres from their home in Heckenberg.
The operation, which ran from Friday until Sunday saw officers conduct 1,900 random breath tests, with 20 people charged with drink-driving.
Police conducted 760 random drug tests, which returned 43 positive detections.
Officers also issued 97 speed infringement notices and 397 other traffic infringement notices issued.
Victoria’s road toll is also high with 197 people losing their lives in the state this year, which is 40 more deaths than the same time last year.
Victoria Police are holding a forum to tackle the state’s rising road toll in the next two weeks after two couples in their 70s were killed travelling to visit family in Chiltern on Thursday.
(9 NEWS)
