Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn, Specialist Operations, today urged the community in Cootamundra to share with police the responsibility of reducing road trauma.

“Don’t let the road take its toll, 16 people have died from your community since the beginning of 2015,” Deputy Commissioner Burn said.

“Take a moment to think about that. 16 fathers, mothers, sons and daughters lost.

“That is why we’re here today. We care and we have come here to show you we are together in this, we are united in your pain and we need you to share the responsibility of reducing road trauma.

“We are embarking on a journey through country NSW and starting here today to show our commitment to safer journeys and appeal for your help.

“Our officers will do all they can, and we want you, the driver, passenger, rider and pedestrian to do what you can to achieve that result,” Deputy Commissioner Burn said.

“Tight-knit communities such as this one feel the pain perhaps even more deeply when tragedy strikes. There might be someone here who has lost a loved one on the road and that loss leaves a mark on an entire community for a very long time.

“194 people have died on NSW roads this year. It’s not enough to hear us, we need you to act, to work with us to end this tragic, and often avoidable, loss of life on our roads.

“Let’s all slow down, not drink or take drugs and drive, ignore the mobile phone, buckle up, take frequent rests and watch out for each other.

“We understand that driving on country roads is different than driving on city roads.

• Drive to the conditions, not just the speed limit.
• It takes longer to stop on gravel roads and it’s easy to lose control.
• Expect the unexpected. Tractors or animals might be just around the corner.
• Don’t swerve for animals. Brake, flash lights and use the vehicle’s horn.
• Remember, country road conditions change rapidly.

“This is not about fines, demerit points, suspensions or infringements. This is about the difference between living and dying, life and incapacitation.

“This is a plea to every road user to do the right thing, to arrive safe to the family.

“It is a plea for patience, common sense, sound judgement and wise decisions.

“We are conducting more drug and alcohol tests utilizing more kits;

“We have dedicated officers working around the clock to reduce road trauma;

“We have safer cars and better roads;

“But they are all in vain if we don’t take personal responsibility on our roads,” Deputy Commissioner Burn said.

A HIGH-speed police chase ended on the Hume Highway with an empty tank of fuel and two people in custody.

A white Ford sedan with a 26-year-old Geelong driver and 19-year-old Albury passenger first came to police attention about 8am on Tuesday.

The car had been travelling at high speed on the Murchison-Violet Town Road and was not pursued due to the conditions.

It was later seen travelling north on the Hume Highway at 150km/h about 9am, then on the Midland Highway heading to Benalla.

Police engaged and terminated pursuits several times before spotting the car near the northbound Glenrowan service station about 9.20am.

The vehicle had run out of fuel at the bottom of a hill.

The Geelong woman and Albury man have been charged.

Senior Constable Stuart Pritchard said the car was in poor condition with damaged tyres and panels.

He said the driver had been inexperienced and was a danger to the community.

A man has been charged over the alleged possession of child abuse material as part of an ongoing investigation into child sex offences.

Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Doyle to investigate child sex offences and child abuse material uncovered during an investigation into an online paedophile ring.

During the previous investigation, police seized a computer tablet and a mobile phone, which allegedly contained child abuse material, and identification and bank cards.

As a result of further inquiries, a 42-year-old man was arrested at Goulburn Police Station yesterday (Tuesday 21 June 2016), and charged with two counts of possess child abuse material and receive property stolen outside NSW.

He later appeared at Goulburn Local Court and was formally refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court on 15 August 2016.

Inquiries are continuing.