THE western region accounted for five of the eight deaths on NSW roads on the weekend, leading to the area’s top traffic cop to plead with motorists to change their potentially fatal driving habits.
Between Friday and Sunday a man died after a single-vehicle crash near Narromine, two people died after a single-vehicle crash 50 kilometres south of Bathurst and two people died after two trucks crashed head-on near Moree.
The region's 2016 road toll had climbed to 64 as of Monday morning – up from just 42 at the same time last year.
Orange hasn’t been immune from the tragedy on the roads, with a fatal accident on Ophir Road last month and the passing of school teacher Kerri Parkes in a Mitchell Highway collision in August.
Western Region Traffic Tactician Inspector Peter McMenamin said speed and an increase in multiple fatalities contributed to the rising toll.
“When you look at the data, we’ve had a bigger increase in the number of multiple fatalities,” Inspector McMenamin said.
“This year we’ve had 54 crashes resulting in those 64 deaths and last year we had 42 deaths from 39 crashes.
“The bottom line is while investigations into the crashes that we’ve had [over the weekend] are still ongoing the initial inquiries have indicated peed, fatigue and people being distracted are still the leading causes of these crashes.”
The weekend’s deaths pushed the state-wide road toll to 320 – 38 more than in 2015 – and prompted the state’s top traffic officer to address the media on Monday.
“Before you venture out on the road, ask yourself the question; What can I do today to survive?,” Traffic and Highway Patrol Acting Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said.