A HORROR streak on regional roads, including two Hunter fatalities in two days, has sparked NSW Police to appeal for greater care from drivers on country roads.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police said more than three times as many lives had been lost in crashes on country roads compared to among metropolitan drivers, with provisional data tallying 201 deaths across NSW so far in 2017.
152 of those were outside Sydney, where another 49 have died in crashes since January.
A dozen crashes in regional areas have claimed lives this year, up from 11 at the same time in 2016.
Hunter roads played their part in the horror toll of seven dead in the past two days.
A 17-year-old learner motorcyclist died after a crash on the M1 at Cameron Park while a Karuah pedestrian was also killed after a Pacific Highway truck crash.
Two people, an 18-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman, were killed in a single crash at Euston.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said it was vital that drivers outside city areas take care and drive to the conditions.
“There have been six crashes of this kind within the Sydney metropolitan area,” he said.
“To have seven lives lost since Sunday, two of those in the same crash, highlights the need for all road users to drive, ride, cycle, and walk to the conditions.
Assistant Commissioner Corboy said individual circumstances would be examined but “the likely causes of these crashes will be speed, people driving while they are tired, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seat belt or driving distracted by such things as a mobile phone.”
“"Now is the time for those on our roads to be fully responsible by; sticking to the speed limit, wearing a seat belt, driving to the conditions, being fit and able to drive, and not becoming distracted,” he said.
“By adhering to a few simple steps, road users can help us to drive down the road toll on NSW roads."