Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The South Coast’s Highway Patrol commander has condemned the driver caught on video playing kamikaze on the Kings Highway on Christmas Day.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Palmowski says the Victorian-plated motorist caught on another driver’s dash cam video in several near misses was being investigated.
“It is these types of drivers who do not deserve the privilege of sharing the roads with other motorists who continue to do the right thing,” Senior Sergeant Palmowski said after viewing the frightening incidents.
“Clearly the driver of the silver car captured on the video clip overtaking is not only foolish, but selfish as well.
“Obviously, what they were doing was far more important than the safety of other motorists and road users that they saw the need to overtake in such a fashion.
“We've all heard the road safety messages that speeding kills and across the Southern Region speeding has been a prominent causal factor in our road trauma statistics.
“Sadly and disappointingly this motorist is not the only example of poor driver behaviour, with over 2100 other motorists being stopped for speeding across the NSW Police Force Southern Region since the beginning of operation Safe Arrival.
“Police will be examining the footage and determining a course of action regarding this driver.”
Deaths from road accidents were up by 37 for the calendar year to December 23 in NSW, to 338, but those numbers hide the number injured.
Police have urged motorists to take down the number plates of dangerous drivers and to be prepared to stand witness in court.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks said the incident highlighted that road users were not tolerating poor driver behaviour.
“This being published on social media highlights the community’s concern for themselves and other road users,” he said.
“The driver can expect to hear from us very soon.”
Chief Inspector Brooks said the footage showed “the technology is here and being used by police and government vehicles and members of the public to protect themselves and other road users”.
Senior Sergeant Palmowski said police from both the Far South Coast and The Hume Traffic and Highway Patrol units regularly provided high visibility patrols of the Kings Highway and maintained ongoing traffic enforcement operations.
“Operation Safe Arrival will continue until January 3, after which police will start operation Saturation, which runs through middle weeks of January and finally concludes with operation Safe Return between January 22-26, 2016.
“The message is clear, don't be selfish, instead be a responsible road user,” he said.
“Everyone has a role to play.”