More police needed to confront NSW road toll explosion

After 18 deaths in the past month, the opposition has led calls for the government to ‘stop burying their heads in the sand’ and put more cops on the road to help save lives.

The state’s road toll continues to explode, with 18 deaths in the past month alone leading to calls for police to be more visible everywhere from highways to country back roads.

A total of 206 people have died on NSW roads since the start of 2024, a jump of 16 on the same time last year.

With the deaths of three young people — Charlie Quinn, Brooke Sorlie and Aaron French — at Tarago over the weekend putting the issue back on the agenda, there is once again a push to boost the numbers of NSW Police visible on the roads and carrying out random breath tests (RBTs).

Police sources said the state’s crippling cop shortage means on many occasions, officers who would be carrying out RBTs are being pulled away to other jobs - particularly in regional areas.

“General duties police are so flat out responding to crime and other issues, and they are the ones there’s an expectation on to do RBTs,” a source said.

“It’s a crisis that isn’t necessarily being addressed.”

Charlie Quinn, who died along with two friends in a car crash in Tarago on Sunday. Pictured with her boyfriend, who remains in hospital after the crash.

Brooke Sorlie and her boyfriend were also killed in the crash.

Earlier this year it was revealed a staggering 2.7 million fewer random breath tests (RBTs) were conducted in 2023 than back in 2019.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said drivers had openly admitted seeing cops while out driving was the best deterrent for speeding, and said country roads are an area of major concern.

“We’ve been pretty consistent in relation to what we say needs to be done to try and reverse this alarming road toll trend,” Mr Khoury said.

“The first thing we need to do is look at where the biggest areas of concern are, and if you look at the current road toll of 206 so far this calendar year - 131 of those 206, so almost two thirds, are happening outside of Sydney.

“We’ve got to change driver behaviour and the most effective way is through the cops, our members always tell us they are the greatest deterrent.

“We see the police as being a big part of the solution and so that’s why the NRMA consistently says, whatever resources the police need, should be supported.”

Emergency services attend the tragic Tarago car crash on July 28. Picture: OnScene ACT

While this years road toll being 16 up on last year is concerning, the numbers over the rolling 12 month period tells an even worse story.

In the last year, there have been 51 more deaths on NSW roads than there were during the same period between July 2022 and July 2023.

Despite being the face of enforcement, NSW Police are not solely responsible for the road toll - with Transport for NSW overseeing much of the work done through education, policy and campaigns.

The Tarago car crash came amid reports there were 2.7 million fewer random breath tests in 2023 compared with 2019. Picture: OnScene ACT

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, David Driver said officers treat any death on the roads as “one too many”.

“Police officers who attend serious crashes and see death and serious injury, know that this can have tragic consequences,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Driver said.

“Every time someone drives a vehicle, they have an obligation to their passengers and other road users to ensure they and everyone around them on the roads gets to their destination safely.”