POLICE are urging motorists to take extra care these school holidays following an increase in fatalities on the state’s roads.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said the number of lives lost on NSW roads this year has already reached an alarming level, with 39 crashes resulting in 41 people killed in March, the highest in a month since 2019.
“Last year in NSW there were 85 murders; however, four times as many people – 338 – died on our roads: that is a senseless loss of life,” Deputy Commissioner Pisanos said.
“The only way to stop the carnage is for drivers to step-up and stick to the rules, it’s just not worth your life. One wrong move behind the wheel and you’re dead.
“With the death last night of a man in Muswellbrook, 103 people have now died on NSW roads this year; that’s far too many families left without a son, father, daughter or mother. The road toll rips lives apart,” he said on Wednesday.
Of those fatalities, 19 were aged 26 to 35, 18 were aged 76 to 95, followed by 17 aged between 18 to 25.
The young man who died last night is awaiting formal identification.
Of these, 45 were drivers, 17 passengers, 27 motorcyclists, nine pedestrians and five cyclists.
Regional roads account for the deadliest roads for fatalities this year, with six people killed on the Princes Highway, six people killed on the Hume Highway, and four on the Pacific Highway.
Double demerits were in place from Thursday 17 to Monday 21 April for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
A second double demerits period will be in effect from Thursday 24 April 2025 until Sunday 27 April 2025.
The police operations will occur during the NSW school holidays, where a large number of families will be travelling to and from destinations across the state.
Officers will be targeting risky driver behaviour, including the Four Ds: drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving, as well as speeding, not wearing seatbelts, and mobile phone use.
This year, there have been more than 51,100 speeding offences detected by police along with 3350 drink driving offences and more than 5,200 illegal mobile phone offences.
The high-visibility policing operation is a statewide operation and will involve general duties officers, assisted by specialist police, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Mounted Unit, PolAir, Licensing Police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Police Transport Command.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said police will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to dangerous driving behaviour, just as they do every day of the year.
“If you speed, drive under the influence, use your phone, or push through fatigue – you’re putting lives at risk.
“Don’t do it. Slow down, switch off, and stop if you’re tired. It’s that simple.”
