JENNY AITCHISON

MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS

MEDIA RELEASE - ROAD SAFETY A KEY FOCUS THIS LONG WEEKEND ACROSS REGIONAL NSW

Please find vision grabs here.   

Road safety is a key focus this long weekend as people hit the road across NSW and in the state’s Riverina, more than 20,000 people will flock to the Deniliquin Ute Muster, which will be officially opened by Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison on Friday 29 September. 
 
Anyone travelling regionally is being urged to take care, slow down and allow plenty of extra travel time to help keep themselves and other road users safe.  
 
With the October long weekend coinciding with the school holidays, there will be more people on regional roads and more people travelling longer distances, so plan rest breaks every two hours and share the driving where possible.  
 
Tragically, last year eight people lost their lives during this same long weekend. 
 
So far this year 265 people have died on NSW roads, that’s 63 more than for the same time last year. 
 
Double demerits will be in place for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences from 12.01am Friday 29 September to 11.59pm on Monday 2 October. 
 
Transport for NSW will staff a display at the Deniliquin Ute Muster to help continue to spread key road safety messages to regional road users. 
 
Quotes attributable to Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:  
 
“I know how much a crash impacts small country communities and sadly, so far this year almost 75 per cent of deaths on our roads have happened in regional outer metropolitan areas. 
 
“And frighteningly, more than 40 per cent of fatal crashes in country areas have involved speed. 
 
“These aren’t just statistics, they are people – someone's mother, father, brother, sister, workmate and friend. The impact of those deaths is immeasurable.  The grief, trauma and regret of the deaths lasts for a lifetime. 
 
“This long weekend I'm urging everyone to slow down, take rest breaks and give yourself plenty of travel time. 
 
“Wear your seatbelt or your helmet if you’re on a motorbike, put your phone away and don’t drive after drinking or taking drugs. 
 
“With about 20,000 people expected to attend the Deniliquin Ute Muster, Transport for NSW is taking the opportunity to connect with people and raise awareness about the dangers of breaking road rules when travelling in rural areas, as well as ways to avoid those terrifying moments caused by exhaustion, microsleeping, drink driving and speeding. 
 
“The team will have two crashed cars on display, demonstrating the varying degrees of damage caused in a crash at 60 km/h versus one at 100 km/h as well as a confronting but important display of 1,122 signs representing the people who died on roads across Australia in 2021.  
 
“We don’t want to see the road toll climb higher this holiday weekend, I am urging everyone to do their part - please follow the rules and help get everyone to their destination safely on regional roads.” 

MEDIA: Wendy Fitzgibbon | Minister Aitchison | 0408 427 540