Road toll crisis “concerns” experts as police launch operation to target drivers

NSW Police will launch a special operation targeting drivers in a bid to prevent more tragedy as experts warn the state’s road toll is reaching “concerning” heights.

The state’s road toll is reaching “concerning” levels, up dramatically on the same time last year even before the inclusion of the five young victims of the Buxton crash tragedy.

A total of 202 people have died on NSW roads in 2022, compared to 184 people at the same time last year.

Experts across the field believe Covid-19 lockdowns have had a significant impact on the driving decisions of road users, with Liverpool Hospital trauma surgeon Dr John Crozier saying new technology in cars that is compulsory in Europe should be adopted in Australia.

“I think a lot of road safety agencies are quite concerned with the rising incidents of death and serious injury on Australian roads,” Dr Crozier said.

“It’s an unacceptable silent epidemic and the price of travel to and from our place of work, or travel to any location, shouldn’t be to be killed or injured in road crashes most of which are preventable.”

The state’s road toll is reaching “concerning” levels according to Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, trauma committee chair, Dr John Crozier. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“There has, I think, globally been an observation post Covid-19 of this rising trend in crash incidents.”

Dr Crozier believes that new safety technology such as automatic emergency breaking (AEB) and electronic stability control should be compulsory on any new car imported into Australia.

The deaths of five young people at Buxton this week took the total number of people who died on NSW roads in 2022 to 202, compared to 184 at the same time last year. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Also worried about the rising numbers Australian Road Safety Foundation CEO Russell White.

“This is a trend were seeing not only in NSW, Queensland is not doing great, Tasmania is not doing great,” Mr White said.

“It starts to raise questions about what’s going on in the post Covid-19 period.

“There seems to be an increasing level of poor behaviour on the road, a lack of courtesy and a lack of understanding about risks.

The makeshift memorial set up on East Pde at Buxton where this week’s fatal crash occurred. Picture: John Grainger

“It’s rapidly reaching a point where from a road safety industry stand point, the things that have seen us get to where we are today aren’t going to help us anymore.

“We need to spend more on vehicle design, infrastructure and that, and to change the culture around road use.”

The deaths of the five teenagers at Buxton late on Tuesday night coincidentally came ahead of a weekend of action by NSW Police on the state’s roads.

Operation Fume will see police target drink and drug drivers on Saturday and Sunday, in the first major statewide road safety effort since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden will head the new push. Picture: Robert Pozo

“Make no mistake, consuming alcohol or drugs impairs your ability to operate a road vehicle and can lead to life-changing consequences,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.

“Due to the pandemic, some Traffic and Highway Patrol operations were curtailed to ensure the safety of officers and the community from COVID-19.

“I’m here to tell you that we never went away and Operation Fume is a reminder that we are here to ensure there is no complacency on the roads and the right choices are made every time.”

“Operation Fume will involve our officers stopping vehicles as part of stationary sites, mobile patrols and targeted activity for vehicles and locations.

“Slow down, drive to the conditions and don’t take any risks. Police will be on the same roads you are, from major roads and highways in cities right through to backroads in rural areas.”