Police

Motorists in NSW are being urged to ‘dob in a driver’ under a new initiative from NSW Police and Crime Stoppers. The new campaign, dubbed ‘The Four Ds’ (drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving), is asking motorists to be the eyes and ears of Crime Stoppers and the NSW Police over the holiday period and dob in drivers they believe to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or using their mobile phones while behind the wheel.

Queensland and Victoria will roll out mobile phone detection cameras this week – five months after NSW began using the technology to issue fines. It means the three Australian states with the biggest populations – and the most drivers – will have cameras to catch people using a mobile phone while behind the wheel. Authorities in other states are also expected to eventually roll out the technology, but are yet to announce their trials.

Police will be out in force this long weekend with a renewed focus on random roadside testing to detect drivers who could be affected by alcohol and drugs. Roadside testing was paused during the peak of the coronavirus crisis and widespread lockdowns, for the safety of officers conducting the tests and to prevent cross-contamination among drivers.