A Campaign aimed at encouraging communities to help in reducing road trauma has been launched in the Shoalhaven.
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The Shoalhaven Local Area Command is one of 10 patrols statewide where the Road Safety Road Show is being held.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Superintendent David Driver launched the program on Thursday with Shoalhaven Local Area Commander, Superintendent Steve Hegarty.
“We have had 208 fatal accidents this year and 223 people have lost their lives on the roads. It is far too high,” Supt Driver said.
“We appeal for communities across the state to abide with road rules. Make sure they are not distracted and most importantly drive to the conditions.
“Slow down and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
“The small amount of time they may gather from speeding is simply not worth it.
“We constantly repeat the message about alcohol and crashes. We are doing more drug driving testing and if people are using illicit substances and driving they will get caught.”
He said when people get into their cars their total focus should be on driving.
“Everyone that uses the road in some shape or form, a pedestrian, motorcyclist, cyclist, driving a car or a heavy vehicle, we have all got to share the responsibility to do the right thing and obey the road rules,” he said.
“Everyone has a responsibility that uses our roads for not only to themselves but other road uses.
“We [the police] can’t do this on our own. We really need the community to understand that they play a vital role in this.
“If no one broke any road rules, our road toll would be far reduced.
“We don’t call them accidents anymore. They are crashes. Generally these incidents occur because someone breaks a road rule.
“Even going slightly above the speed limit increases the risk of being involved in a crash.
“The community can help us to reduce this trauma by obeying the road rules and driving to the conditions at the time.”
There has been a reduction in the number of deaths on Shoalhaven roads.
In 2015, 10 people died on local roads. To date this year there has only been one fatality but according to Supt Hegarty that is still “one too many”.
“We are making headway locally but one fatality is still too many,” he said.
“We have a large area and everyone has to contribute.
“Distraction is a large contributor to crashes, as is speed, fatigue, drugs and alcohol and we are targeting these areas.
“The highway is not just the focus. A number of fatalities last year were not on the highway and that is why our cars patrol other areas as well.
“It is not just tourists or locals it is a mixture of both.”