THE deaths of an elderly man and woman in a horrific collision in Dubbo at the weekend are a tragic reminder of the dangers motorists face every time they travel on the state's roads.
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Road fatalities happen in their hundreds every year in NSW, each crash having a myriad variables such as speed, fatigue alcohol, driver experience, road and weather conditions and the use of restraints that may have contributed to the deaths of those involved.
While the circumstances surrounding the Dubbo crash are yet to be fully investigated, it is fair to say the details are unlikely to lessen the devastating impact for their friends and families, who will never see them again.
Earlier this year members of the community and police officers carrying out the Christmas and New Year road safety campaign known as Operation Safe Arrival were buoyed by the fact there was not a single fatality on western region roads.
Then last weekend there were seven fatal crashes that took eight lives on NSW roads. This included the deaths of motorcyclists in the western region centres of Orange and Bathurst.
It prompted police to issue a warning for motorists to exercise caution over the coming Australia Day long weekend, traditionally a horror period on our roads.
Road deaths need not be inevitable during holiday periods.
The police will do their part to target the so-called 'fatal five' of speeding, drink/drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, distracted driving and driving while tired.
We motorists can do our part by not giving them anything to target.