Two-thirds of deaths on regional roads: police urge drivers to 'stay focused'

The Advertiser

2 days ago

As holiday-makers hit the Hunter roads for the King's Birthday long weekend, NSW Police have urged drivers to stay alert.
Police will launch a statewide operation to target drivers and riders speeding, drink and drug driving, driving fatigued or distracted over the June weekend.
The operation will start at 12am on Friday, June 6, and end at 11.59pm on Monday, June 9. Double demerit points will apply.
Newcastle-Hunter sector highway patrol chief inspector Thomas Barnes urged all drivers to be cautious and "stay focused" on the roads.
"About two-thirds of road fatalities occur on regional roads; so please be patient, take extra care, and avoid distractions such as phones," Mr Barnes said.
He said that while traffic operations would be in effect to deter drivers from dangerous behaviour, drivers needed to take responsibility for their actions.
"It's simple - don't speed, don't drink or take drugs and drive, stop if you're feeling tired, ignore distractions such as mobile phones, follow the road rules, and respect others on the road," he said.
Police announced the three-day operation after four motorcyclists died and two were injured in serious crashes from Thursday, May 29, to Sunday, June 1.
A man, believed to be in his 20s, died in a reportedly off-road motorbike crash in Wyee last week.
Across the state, there have been 157 lives lost this year, which was 14 more than this time last year, police said.
During the June long weekend traffic operation last year, there were two road-related deaths.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley urged drivers and riders to make smart decisions so everyone made it home safely.
"One bad decision can cause a lifetime of pain - don't let that be your legacy this weekend," she said.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said one-third of deaths on NSW roads were due to speeding.
"Every road user has a responsibility to be vigilant, drive safely and follow the road rules, not just during the long weekend, but at all times," she said.
Across the state this year to Saturday, May 31, police issued more than 170,300 traffic infringement notices, including 75,417 speed infringements.
Officers attended 16,741 major crashes.
NSW Police have also strongly advised people not to travel to the Barrington Tops National Park and the surrounding State Forests.
In a statement, police said many of the roads in and around the park had land slips below them and land slumps on them, bridges that were washed away and large fallen trees.
"With the forecast winds over the weekend, there is also a high chance of more trees falling as the ground is still very wet from the significant rainfall," the statement said.
As holiday-makers hit the Hunter roads for the King's Birthday long weekend, NSW Police have urged drivers to stay alert.
Police will launch a statewide operation to target drivers and riders speeding, drink and drug driving, driving fatigued or distracted over the June weekend.
The operation will start at 12am on Friday, June 6, and end at 11.59pm on Monday, June 9. Double demerit points will apply.
Newcastle-Hunter sector highway patrol chief inspector Thomas Barnes urged all drivers to be cautious and "stay focused" on the roads.
"About two-thirds of road fatalities occur on regional roads; so please be patient, take extra care, and avoid distractions such as phones," Mr Barnes said.
He said that while traffic operations would be in effect to deter drivers from dangerous behaviour, drivers needed to take responsibility for their actions.
"It's simple - don't speed, don't drink or take drugs and drive, stop if you're feeling tired, ignore distractions such as mobile phones, follow the road rules, and respect others on the road," he said.
Police announced the three-day operation after four motorcyclists died and two were injured in serious crashes from Thursday, May 29, to Sunday, June 1.
A man, believed to be in his 20s, died in a reportedly off-road motorbike crash in Wyee last week.
Across the state, there have been 157 lives lost this year, which was 14 more than this time last year, police said.
During the June long weekend traffic operation last year, there were two road-related deaths.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley urged drivers and riders to make smart decisions so everyone made it home safely.
"One bad decision can cause a lifetime of pain - don't let that be your legacy this weekend," she said.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said one-third of deaths on NSW roads were due to speeding.
"Every road user has a responsibility to be vigilant, drive safely and follow the road rules, not just during the long weekend, but at all times," she said.
Across the state this year to Saturday, May 31, police issued more than 170,300 traffic infringement notices, including 75,417 speed infringements.
Officers attended 16,741 major crashes.
NSW Police have also strongly advised people not to travel to the Barrington Tops National Park and the surrounding State Forests.
In a statement, police said many of the roads in and around the park had land slips below them and land slumps on them, bridges that were washed away and large fallen trees.
"With the forecast winds over the weekend, there is also a high chance of more trees falling as the ground is still very wet from the significant rainfall," the statement said.
As holiday-makers hit the Hunter roads for the King's Birthday long weekend, NSW Police have urged drivers to stay alert.
Police will launch a statewide operation to target drivers and riders speeding, drink and drug driving, driving fatigued or distracted over the June weekend.
The operation will start at 12am on Friday, June 6, and end at 11.59pm on Monday, June 9. Double demerit points will apply.
Newcastle-Hunter sector highway patrol chief inspector Thomas Barnes urged all drivers to be cautious and "stay focused" on the roads.
"About two-thirds of road fatalities occur on regional roads; so please be patient, take extra care, and avoid distractions such as phones," Mr Barnes said.
He said that while traffic operations would be in effect to deter drivers from dangerous behaviour, drivers needed to take responsibility for their actions.
"It's simple - don't speed, don't drink or take drugs and drive, stop if you're feeling tired, ignore distractions such as mobile phones, follow the road rules, and respect others on the road," he said.
Police announced the three-day operation after four motorcyclists died and two were injured in serious crashes from Thursday, May 29, to Sunday, June 1.
A man, believed to be in his 20s, died in a reportedly off-road motorbike crash in Wyee last week.
Across the state, there have been 157 lives lost this year, which was 14 more than this time last year, police said.
During the June long weekend traffic operation last year, there were two road-related deaths.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley urged drivers and riders to make smart decisions so everyone made it home safely.
"One bad decision can cause a lifetime of pain - don't let that be your legacy this weekend," she said.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said one-third of deaths on NSW roads were due to speeding.
"Every road user has a responsibility to be vigilant, drive safely and follow the road rules, not just during the long weekend, but at all times," she said.
Across the state this year to Saturday, May 31, police issued more than 170,300 traffic infringement notices, including 75,417 speed infringements.
Officers attended 16,741 major crashes.
NSW Police have also strongly advised people not to travel to the Barrington Tops National Park and the surrounding State Forests.
In a statement, police said many of the roads in and around the park had land slips below them and land slumps on them, bridges that were washed away and large fallen trees.
"With the forecast winds over the weekend, there is also a high chance of more trees falling as the ground is still very wet from the significant rainfall," the statement said.
As holiday-makers hit the Hunter roads for the King's Birthday long weekend, NSW Police have urged drivers to stay alert.
Police will launch a statewide operation to target drivers and riders speeding, drink and drug driving, driving fatigued or distracted over the June weekend.
The operation will start at 12am on Friday, June 6, and end at 11.59pm on Monday, June 9. Double demerit points will apply.
Newcastle-Hunter sector highway patrol chief inspector Thomas Barnes urged all drivers to be cautious and "stay focused" on the roads.
"About two-thirds of road fatalities occur on regional roads; so please be patient, take extra care, and avoid distractions such as phones," Mr Barnes said.
He said that while traffic operations would be in effect to deter drivers from dangerous behaviour, drivers needed to take responsibility for their actions.
"It's simple - don't speed, don't drink or take drugs and drive, stop if you're feeling tired, ignore distractions such as mobile phones, follow the road rules, and respect others on the road," he said.
Police announced the three-day operation after four motorcyclists died and two were injured in serious crashes from Thursday, May 29, to Sunday, June 1.
A man, believed to be in his 20s, died in a reportedly off-road motorbike crash in Wyee last week.
Across the state, there have been 157 lives lost this year, which was 14 more than this time last year, police said.
During the June long weekend traffic operation last year, there were two road-related deaths.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley urged drivers and riders to make smart decisions so everyone made it home safely.
"One bad decision can cause a lifetime of pain - don't let that be your legacy this weekend," she said.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said one-third of deaths on NSW roads were due to speeding.
"Every road user has a responsibility to be vigilant, drive safely and follow the road rules, not just during the long weekend, but at all times," she said.
Across the state this year to Saturday, May 31, police issued more than 170,300 traffic infringement notices, including 75,417 speed infringements.
Officers attended 16,741 major crashes.
NSW Police have also strongly advised people not to travel to the Barrington Tops National Park and the surrounding State Forests.
In a statement, police said many of the roads in and around the park had land slips below them and land slumps on them, bridges that were washed away and large fallen trees.
"With the forecast winds over the weekend, there is also a high chance of more trees falling as the ground is still very wet from the significant rainfall," the statement said.