The Western Region saw 53 major crashes across the holiday period, as police express their concern for dangerous driving. 

Tragedy followed the Christmas period this season, as police reported five deaths on NSW roads over the festive period. 

While the double demerit period has finished, the operation has caused police to make further warnings against dangerous driving. 

“During the festive season, we saw a number of concerning incidents of dangerous driving, including excessive speed, drink and drug driving and distractions,” Traffic and Highway Patrol State Operations Commander, Superintendent Anthony Boyd said. 

“We will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach to law breakers. The end of the double-demerit operation isn’t an excuse to forget the road rules, including the speed limit.”

In the Western Region, police made 846 speed infringements, 154 drug-driving charges, and 73 PCA (over BAC limit) charges. 

Out of the 53 major crashes, one was fatal causing the loss of two lives and injuring 44 people. 

Altogether in NSW, there were 740 major crashes. 

“One death is one too many and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep people safe on our roads through enforcement and education.”

In 2023, NSW saw 334 road deaths, an increase of 58 from the year prior. 

In a recent review of NSW Regional Road Safety, the Auditor-General observed that the road toll in NSW is disproportional, with two-thirds of the state’s road crash fatalities taking place on regional roads, despite one one-third of the state’s population living there. 

“Highway Patrol officers, together with local police, will continue to have a high-visibility presence in metro and regional areas across the state, targeting speeding, fatigue, and drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving,” Superintendent Boyd said.