Complacency and distracted driving have resulted in dozens of people being killed and injured on the Newell Highway in the last six years.
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Fatigue and speed are the two biggest factors in accidents on the state’s longest highway, which stretches more than 986 kilometres from the Queensland border to the Victorian border.
Ten people died in six fatal accidents on the Newell Highway in 2017, with half of those on a 520-kilometre stretch between West Wyalong and Narrabri.
Those crashes occurred at Dubbo, Tomingley, Brocklehurst and Tooraweenah.
That particular section has proved particularly dangerous, with a further 26 people killed between 2012 and 2016.
According to Roads and Maritime Services, there were 286 casualty crashes in those five years (detailed data for 2017 isn’t available yet). In addition to the 26 deaths, 112 people were seriously injured and a further 309 suffering minor or moderate injuries.
Fatigue accounted for 51 crashes (18 per cent), while speed was a contributor in 47 crashes (16 per cent).
Alcohol, which is considered the other of the big three when it comes to crash contributors, was a factor in just nine accidents (3 per cent).
Since 2012, the NSW government has invested $500 million to make improvements to the Newell Highway in a bid to reduce the road toll and crash rate. Part of that included upgrading intersections and adding overtaking lanes.
Because of the sheer size of the Newell Highway in NSW, the relatively low numbers of vehicles that use the road per day and its comparatively low fatality rates, it is considered one of the safest highways in the state.
However the section between West Wyalong and Narrabri represent an increased risk.
The 2016 Australian Road Assessment Program by the Australian Automobile Association, which looked at all major highway in Australia, found the sections of road between the Victorian border and West Wyalong and Narrabri to the Queensland border were considered low risk.
The section between Forbes and Dubbo was considered low-medium risk, as was Gilgandra to Narrabri.
The 53-kilometre segment between Brocklehurst and Gilgandra was considered the worst on the Newell, rated a medium risk.
Despite the low ratings compared to other major highways, there were actually four more deaths on the West Wyalong-Narrabri section of the Newell than the Mitchell Highway between 2012 and 2017.
