NSW Police are urging motorists to slow down and take care on the roads over the Australia Day period.
Operation Safe Return is the Australia Day road safety enforcement campaign.
It starts at 12.01am on Wednesday, January 25 and concludes at 11.59pm on Sunday, January 29.
Double demerits will be in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
During the operation police want road users to think about the #Five2Arrive.
These are five simple tips for road users in order to arrive home safely:
- Don’t speed
- Don’t drink and drive
- Wear a seatbelt
- Put your phone away, and
- Take regular breaks.
Last year, 384 lives were lost on NSW roads.
This year, there have already been 19 fatalities due to road-related incidents.
Thirteen drivers have been killed in 2017, as well as three motorcyclists, two pedestrians and one passenger.
Acting Commander of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, urged road users to obey road rules to get home safely to their family and friends.
“How do you want to spend your Australia Day?” he said.
“I want to see everyone enjoying Australia Day and celebrating with family and friends, not visiting someone in hospital or arranging a loved one’s funeral.
“In 2016, 384 lives were lost on NSW roads, and we have now lost 19 lives since the start of the year.”
“I want to see everyone enjoying Australia Day and celebrating with family and friends, not visiting someone in hospital or arranging a loved one’s funeral."
- Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy
Assistant Commissioner Corboy said the community needed to work together to “put a stop to this needless loss of life”.
“Speeding is still the number one killer on our roads, and when it is coupled with drink-driving, fatigue, distraction, or not wearing a seatbelt, the consequences are disastrous,” he said.
“Throughout Operation Safe Return, you will see more police on the roads targeting speeding, drink driving, seatbelts, fatigue and driver distraction.
“All we want is to see people return home safely this year.
“To make sure this happens, we will be out in force taking licences off those people who put themselves and others at risk.”