While it’s great to catch up with family and friends at this time of the year, it’s more important that you make it to your destination safely, and make safety in getting their your main priority. 

Already over the past week traffic volumes in the Orana region, and in particularly on the Newell Highway, have increased dramatically, as people travel for holidays, or come into the region for their last minute Christmas shopping. 

We all know the roads across NSW, but especially around this area can be an unforgiving beast. 

Last year’s horrific road toll, seven deaths between Boxing Day and the New Year, demonstrated that.

The tragic events prompted road safety campaigns in a number of papers, including the Daily Liberal with our Survive the Drive campaign which started in December last year, calling on drivers to rethink their actions and Survive the Drive. 

For years there has also been calls to fix the highways around the region, all the way to the Blue Mountains. 

Across the region multi-million dollar highway upgrades have made travelling a pleasant and easier experience. 

And all agree, it’s now time for that to happen on more roads, and not only the main ones. 

But in the meantime, we have the highway we have –  and as the old catch cry goes, we have to ‘drive to survive’. 

Please – we plead with you, like all emergency services do every year, every holiday period for that matter –  take care on the roads. Like our gallant emergency service personnel from police, ambulance, fire and rescue, rural fire services through to the local hospital emergency doctors and staff we don’t want to see or have to report fatalities over this festive season.

Does it matter if you are a few minutes later in getting to your destination? NO – that’s the simple answer.

For you and your loved ones it is much better and more important that you get to your final destination safely.

So over this Christmas New Year period, drive to conditions, don’t take risks, certainly don’t drink and drive or take drugs. 

If you are tired, pull over and take a break. Remember double demerits will apply. There will be no second chances or warnings and so their shouldn’t be either.

Have a merry but safe holiday.