As we head into another long weekend, NSW Police have launched Operation Safe Return in a bid to keep drivers safe on our roads.
Latest police data reveals the person most likely to be involved in a crash is a male driver, traveling on country roads, between midday and 6 o clock at night.
But the message from police is that anyone can be involved in an accident and it's already happened at a record high rate with 392 lives lost on NSW roads last year.
"Safe Return is a state wide operation which will be targeting speeding, fatigue, drink driving, not wearing a seat belt and mobile phone use," said Chief Inspector Bruce McGregor.
This year is off to an awful start, between January 1st and 23rd 27 fatal crashes have occurred on NSW roads with 29 people losing their lives. Some were here in the Hunter including a pedestrian who was killed on Nelson Bay Road in Fullerton Cove last weekend and another male pedestrian in Belmont last week.
"We haven't even completed a month yet and we've had seven fatalities which is really too many and it causes a lot of families and friends a lot of angst, and it's a life changing situation," said Chief Inspector McGregor.
Double demerits are now in force having started at midnight last night, and will be in force until midnight on Sunday (January 28).
"I would urge people to plan their journeys, have regular fatigue breaks and make sure they're hydrated and be respectful to other road uses and be patient because you will strike congestion and you will strike issues and be prepared for that," said Chief Inspector McGregor.
