Police are urging motorists heading to this weekend’s race meeting at Mount Panorama to plan ahead and drive safely, with Operation Bathurst 2024 commencing today and running through until Sunday.

With more than 200,000 visitors expected at the Bathurst 1000, a high-visibility policing operation will be running involving general duties and specialist police targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use and seat-belt offences.

Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland, says there will be a significant police presence on all roads leading to Bathurst, saying road safety is everyone’s responsibility and motorists should avoid putting themselves and other road users at risk.

Assistant Commissioner Holland says with thousands of extra vehicles on the road, he is calling for extra caution to be exercised as the event also coincides with the end of the NSW School Holidays.