A KELSO man was caught out by police allegedly driving with an illicit substance in his system on Thursday as part of a state wide road safety campaign aimed at driving down the road toll.
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The driver was stopped by police not long after they set up their mobile testing station, and while it wasn't the start officers attached to Operation Merret wanted, it sent the message loud and clear.
Do the wrong thing and you will be caught.
Traffic and Highway Patrol's drug bus was in Bathurst on Thursday, pulling drivers over for random breath and drug tests on the Great Western Highway.
In all 140 drivers were stopped.
With more than 200 lives lost on NSW Roads already this year, police are calling on road users to play their part and obey the road rules, making sure everyone gets home safely.
Operation Merret, an unorthodox and and proactive approach to road policing, aimed at educating the public, was launched earlier this month. It runs until October 26, 2019.
Chief Inspector Glenn Cogdell, from Chifley Police District, said the choices drivers are making not only impact themselves, but affect entire families and communities forever.
"The choice to drink or use drugs and drive; the choice to use a mobile phone, the choice to speed, the choice not to use a seat belt - these are all selfish decisions that can lead to a senseless loss of life," he said.
"Sadly most of those killed are drivers, passengers and pedestrians. It's time road users recognise that safety on the road is as much their responsibility as it is the responsibility of police," he said.
With the region also expecting inclement weather this weekend, Chief Inspector Cogdell said it was a timely to remind drivers to slow down and drive to conditions.
"Drivers really need to adjust their driving to suit the conditions, slow down, leave extra room for braking and if the road is closed, don't attempt to drive on it," he said.
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