Drivers travelling through the Yass Valley during the long weekend were generally well behaved, though international drivers were causing concern, according to Yass Highway Patrol.
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Operation Stay Alert ran for four days from Friday to Monday, performing more than 5000 random breath tests.
A total of 220 drivers were fined for speeding, and 24 were issued infringements for restraint offences.
One of the most notable offences was when a 24-year-old male driver was caught speeding 152km/h on the Hume Highway. Police stopped the driver on Friday near Bowning, and charged him with speeding more than 30km/h over the limit. He was fined $799 and lost five demerit points.
Also, a 17-year-old p-plate driver was charged with low-range drink driving after police stopped him for speeding on Sunday.
The Canberra man was pulled over at 6.40am on the Barton Highway after police recorded him travelling at 123km/h. His licence restricts him to a speed limit of 100km/h.
A breath-test revealed he also had a blood-alcohol level of 0.071.
He was charged with low-range drink driving and will appear before Yass Local Court on a date to be fixed.
Yass Highway Patrol sergeant Peter Bickford said most motorists drove well in the poor weather conditions.
He said there was only one accident, when a car rolled over on Lachlan Valley Way.
The three occupants of the vehicle, all from the same family in Wollongong, were taken to Yass Hospital.
Sergeant Bickford said poor weather conditions and baldy tyres were contributing factors in the accident. The 42-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle at about 2pm Monday while using the vehicle’s cruise control on a wet surface. The vehicle rolled.
One female passenger was trapped inside the wreckage for a short time before being conveyed to Yass Hospital with neck injuries. She has since been transferred to The Canberra Hospital and remained in a satisfactory condition yesterday.
The other occupants sustained minor injuries.
Sergeant Bickford recommended drivers stop using cruise control in wet conditions.
He was also concerned at the increasing number of international drivers who were often unaware of the road rules.
“There were some minor incidents but in the main, we’ve seen a steady increase in drivers that hold an international driver status, that continues to be of concern to us.”
He said police often had to deal with language barriers, and there were increasing instances of drivers visiting the country who drove short-term rental or run-down vehicles. Because they were here for only a short time, it was difficult to ensure their fines would be paid.
