Police are urging road users to remain vigilant after a "disappointing" start to 2021, with a number of fatalities in the Dubbo region.
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Traffic Tactician for the Western Region Acting Inspector Jason Bush has urged motorists to take responsibility on the road, as too many local people were losing their lives in crashes on roads across the region.
"We've unfortunately seen some serious accidents in the Orana Mid-Western district," he said.
"One of them being the pedestrian accident at Wellington, and we also saw a serious motor vehicle collision occur on the Tomingley Road just south of Narromine.
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"Our message for motorists is to be extra vigilant when driving or riding motor vehicles, not only in the Dubbo area but wherever we travel."
While country residents make up only one-third of the NSW population, two-thirds of road fatalities occur on rural roads, according to Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety.
There is a strong common belief that locals are safer on the road than tourists or 'city people' however more than 70 per cent of fatal crashes on country roads involve rural residents.
Over the Christmas and New Year period between December 24 and January 3, Dubbo Highway Patrol detected 160 speeding offences, with 55 per cent of speed offences detected on the radar between 10 and 20 km/h over the limit.
Police also detected 17 people not wearing a seatbelt, with 10 of them being unrestrained children under the age of 16.
There have been four fatalities on the roads in the Dubbo region so far this year.
Acting Inspector Bush said it doesn't matter how familiar you are with the road, there's no room for complacency.
He said speed, fatigue and alcohol were some of the major factors contributing to deaths on regional roads.
"Unfortunately accidents still occur on the roads we're familiar with as well as those we're unfamiliar with," he said.
"Be mindful of your surroundings and what speed zone you're driving in, make sure you monitor your fatigue levels, and if you're going to drink, make sure you have an alternative plan before you jump behind the wheel.
"Plan your trip, there's no need to hurry with proper planning, and safer speeds we can ensure everyone gets to their destinations safely. "
Acting Inspector Bush said road trauma doesn't just affect families involved in incidents, but the broader community, and that motorists could expect to see an increase in police presence leading up to and on the Australia Day weekend.
"Hopefully we can slow this tragic trend of horrific accidents down for 2021 with everyone's help," he said.
"We're just asking motorists to do their bit to keep the road toll down and the community safe, just as the police will also be out doing their bit to ensure people get to their destinations safely."
"As we can see from the Wellington incident, as well as the Peak Hill incident just prior to New Year, these tragic events have a flow-on effect not only for family, but the broader community as well."
Double demerits will be in effect from January 22 through to midnight on January 26.
Police will be targeting fatigue, speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and alcohol related offences, with double points to be given to those who are caught doing the wrong thing.