Illawarra and South Coast highway patrol officers have vowed to do everything they can to curb the state’s rapidly-rising road toll in the lead-up to Christmas, but say the onus is on drivers to help stop the carnage.
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Two fatal accidents on the regions’ roads at the weekend – which claimed the lives of two teens – were horrific reminders of the need for people to take care when behind the wheel, police say.
On Friday, 18-year-old Jayke Robinson was killed after the car in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree and caught alight at West Dapto about 2.10am.
The driver, a 24-year-old man, was pulled from the car by nearby residents.
Just 36 hours later, about 2.15pm on Saturday, a 17-year-old boy died on arrival at a Sydney hospital after being flown from the scene of a crash at Wandandian, south of Nowra.
Fourteen people have died on Illawarra roads so far in 2016 (up to and including December 4), according to data from the NSW Centre for Road Safety.
The region’s 2016 toll to date is on par with the same time last year.
For the entire year of 2015, 17 people were killed in Illawarra road accidents.
The centre defines the Illawarra as the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven local government areas.
Sergeant Stewart Arnold, from the South Coast Highway Patrol cluster, said the recent accidents had taken their toll on emergency service personnel, witnesses and the broader community.
“It just affects everyone,” he said. “It’s such a sad thing to see someone’s life pass away along the streets [and] on the roads.
“Coming into the festive season we should be celebrating with our families, but unfortunately with the road toll the way it is we have people not making it home to their families.”
Sergeant Arnold said officers had restricted annual leave over Christmas, meaning all available highway patrol vehicles would be on the road.
The usual police blitz, Operation Safe Arrival, starts on December 16 and runs until January 2.
Bernard Carlon, from the NSW Centre for Road Safety, said this year had been “a horrific one on our roads”.
“We are asking everyone to have your head in the moment, be vigilant and patient, and make responsible decisions on the road, because even the slightest slip in concentration can have tragic consequences,” he said.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
