Senior police from the Traffic and Highway Patrol are concerned about how much road users in NSW value their lives, after seven people died in five separate crashes over the course of three days, NSW Police say.
About 2am on Friday (12 August 2016), a 48-year-old man died after he was struck by a car on Memorial Drive, Corrimal.
About 3:30pm on Friday, a 59-year-old woman, who was the rider of a BMW motorcycle, died after crashing with a truck on the M1 Motorway, Black Hill.
About 6:30pm on Friday, a 15-year-old boy, who was a passenger of a Subaru Forester travelling north on Rotary Drive, Batemans Bay, died after the car left the roadway and crashed.
About 12:45pm on Saturday (13 August 2016), a 53-year-old man and a 47-year-old man both died following a two-vehicle crash on Sutton Road, Sutton.
About 6:20pm on Saturday, a 21-year-old man, who was the rider of a Kawasaki motorcycle, died after crashing with a car on Waterfall Way, Fernmount.
About 12:20pm on Sunday yesterday a 30-year-old woman died following a two-vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway, Chindera.
Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, Commander of the state's Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said that with the lives lost over the weekend, the risks that are on our roads should be obvious to all road users.
"To have this many deaths in just three days should serve as a warning as to what can go wrong on our roads."
"There is little doubt that speed, fatigue, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seat belt or proper helmet, or distraction by a mobile phone contribute to crashes on our roads."
"To have 252 lives lost in 227 days so far in 2016, suggests that personal responsibility is failing many road users."
"That is 252 lots of families and friends that are suffering the loss of losing a loved one on our roads."
"Operation Towards Zero continues and there will be more police on our roads making sure that those not taking personal responsibility for their actions are accountable."
"Among results over the weekend, officers from Operation Towards Zero conducted Random Breath Tests on over 600 drivers, issued 59 speeding and 125 other traffic infringements."
"Our messages are simple;
- If you've been drinking or have used drugs, your ability to respond when driving is severely diminished.
- If you’re speeding, you risk crashing or running off the road when taking evasive action.
- If you’re distracted by a mobile phone, or are driving tired, you’re not concentrating on the road, putting yourself and others at great risk.
-If you’re not wearing a seat belt or proper helmet your chances of survival in a crash are minimal at best.
- If you’re walking or cycling you need to make sure you’re wearing bright visible clothing and sharing the road with others safely."
"Sadly, many people have failed to follow these messages so far this year, which is costing lives," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
