The weekend road toll is a scary reminder of the need to stay safe when travelling this festive season.
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Three people were killed in NSW within hours of one another, all in single-vehicle fatalities.
A woman died 10 kilometres south of Yeoval after her ute veered off the road, hit a tree and rolled. She died at the scene.
On Saturday night there was also a single-vehicle accident at North St Marys. Emergency services were called to Forrester Road after reports a Toyota Corolla had veered off the road and hit a power pole. The woman died at the scene.
That morning a member of the public alerted police after finding a Toyota Hilux utility had veered off the road and hit trees while travelling about 50kms east of Griffith. The driver, a 53-year-old man, died at the scene.
As Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said: “That is a staggering number of wives, husbands, sons or daughters that won’t be returning home this festive season”.
Police across the state are conducting Operation Safe Arrival.
They’re focusing on drink and drug-driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
But while those they find breaking the law will be hit with double demerit points, there’s a lot more at stake.
No one wants to see the road toll rise.
There have already been four fatalities on the road since Operation Safe Arrival began on Friday. Emergency Services have already been called to 80 serious accidents.
The police don’t want to attend any more crashes and there’s no one who wants to hear their loved one has not made it home.
We’ve all heard the same adages about driving, but they’re worth repeating to ensure the message is heard.
Wear a seatbelt, drive to the conditions, put away your mobile phone.
Drive within the speed limit, pay attention on the road, don’t put others at risk.
Don’t drive after drinking, don’t drive after taking drugs, don’t drive if you’re tired.
There are plenty of places to stop and get a cup of tea for those in need of a rest. In western and south western NSW alone 95 businesses have come on board the Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme.
Taking a break and arriving home late is a much better alternative to not arriving home at all.