Police concerned with spike in crashes in southern NSW region compared with this time last year
Following eight fatalities on the state’s roads in 24 hours, NSW Police has made a public plea to all road users to take extra care on the roads.
Six out of the eight people killed were in three separate crashes involving trucks.
Addressing the media yesterday, detective chief inspector Phillip Brooks said complacency is becoming a safety issue.
“We know that speed, fatigue, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt or proper helmet, driving distracted by a mobile phone; are all key risks for serious injury and fatal crashes on our roads,” Brooks says.
“In what is a clear, perfect driving condition day such as today, complacency is starting to become an issue for drivers on NSW roads.
The south of the state is a particular concern for police, after seeing a spike in fatalities in the region compared with this time last year.
“This is certainly a plea for all road users, particularly those in rural NSW, to please take extra care on our roads.
“We’ve got all available Highway Patrol Police on our roads, particularly in the southern region where we’re doing Operation South Force…focusing on what are 57 fatalities in the southern region alone.
“That’s 20 more than this time last year.”
NSW Police is cracking down on dangerous driving behaviour, issuing an increasing number of infringements in a bid to reduce the road toll.
“Unfortunately personal responsibility is clearly lacking on the part of many road users and even in the last financial year, 250,000 drivers and riders have been given infringements for speeding on our roads.
“Now that number is up 25,000 based on this time last year.
“With these increased in speeding statistics, this is clear evidence that police have had enough.
“We’re out there writing more infringements in the hope that we don’t attend these fatal and serious injury crashes on our roads.”
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) is calling for an investigation into the transport industry, citing the three separate crashes involving trucks that have occurred within the past 24 hours.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those killed in the last 24 hours in these crashes which are still under investigation,” TWU national assistant secretary Michael Kaine says.
“The trucking community knows all too well of the devastating effect of horrific crashes like these.”