Police have expressed dismay at the indifferent attitude of some road users, after six people were killed in three days on the state’s roads, NSW Police say.
On Thursday, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione urged all road users to engage wisdom and common sense into their driving habits. A day later, two people were killed in single-vehicle crashes, and four others died over the weekend.
Commander of the State's Traffic and Highway Patrol, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said the same risk factors continue to contribute to the tragic toll.
"Sadly, it is speed, fatigue, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seat belt or proper helmet, driving fatigued or distracted by a mobile phone that is costing lives on our roads.
"So far this year, 206 lives have been lost, 43 more than this time last year."
Since Friday (1 July 2016), six deaths have occurred;
* 5pm Friday a 66-year-old male riding a motorcycle at Clybucca crashed into a pole.
* Also Friday, at 5.35pm, a 75-year-old male driver crashed into a guard rail at the Pacific Highway at Tea Gardens.
* At 12am on Saturday (2 July 2016), a 31-year-old female passenger in the rear seat of a vehicle was killed in Tabulam
* At 12:30am, also Saturday, a 27-year-old man crashed his vehicle into a pole at Griffith.
* At 9:30pm on Sunday yesterday, a 28-year-old driver and his 26-year-old front seat passenger died when their vehicle crashed into a pole at Tomago.
While police are investigating these tragic events, it would appear that driver error may be a critical factor.
Three crashes into poles have resulted in four deaths, whilst in four crashes in which five people died, vehicles have left the road due to fatigue, speed, distraction or other factors.
So far this year, there have been 131 deaths on rural roads and 75 on metropolitan roads. Of those, 155 were male and 51 were female. They included 105 drivers, 30 motorcyclists, 28 passengers, two cyclists and 41 pedestrians.
Assistant Commissioner Hartley said that the pain and suffering of six families across this weekend, and 206 so far this year, should be enough for road users to re-think their behaviour.
"Drivers who continue to speed, drink or drug drive, drive fatigued or distracted by a mobile phone and with passengers not wearing seat belts continue to place themselves at risk.
"For motorcycle riders, safe riding and wearing proper clothing greatly reduces the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.
"With more than 1 million people on their bikes each week, the need to wear bright coloured clothing, and share the road safely is the key to avoiding a crash.
"Pedestrians need to take extra care by crossing in a designated or controlled crossing area, be able to be seen by other road users, not be distracted by portable music or a phone, and not misjudge oncoming traffic.
"These basic steps will not only ensure your safety, but the safety of other road users," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
