Police urge caution on the roads

With that in mind, Griffith Local Area Command has issued a warning to Leeton shire motorists to be vigilant and alert on the roads during the upcoming long weekend. 

Double demerits will be enforced from 12.01am Friday to 11.59pm Monday. 

Griffith Local Area Command Inspector Kim Traynor said police remained concerned about the number of incidents that occur during these periods. 

“We’re still seeing a number of accidents and poor driver behaviour when there is a long weekend,” she said. 

“I think people are aware of double demerits and it does make them more conscious, but we are still concerned about the number of incidents happening in our command. Obviously during these periods there is more traffic on the roads, so we encourage people to be mindful and careful.”

Police will be targeting drink and drug driving, seat belts, fatigue. speeding and “distractions” relating to mobile phone use and more. 

Inspector Traynor said Leeton shire residents could expect to have random breath tests be carried out over the weekend, as well as increased police presence in the area as part of Operation Go Slow.

In the past week, there have been numerous fatal accidents in the southern Riverina region, including one near Hay where former St Francis College student Jess Murphy was killed. 

Inspector Traynor was hopeful a fatality-free weekend would be recorded in the area over the coming days. 

“It can happen in an instant, so that’s why we always urge people to be so careful every time that get behind the wheel,” she said. 

“In the last week or so there have been a number of fatal accidents across the state, so we certainly hope that doesn’t happen here.”

The current state road toll stands at 26 more than the same time last year. NSW deputy police commissioner Catherine Burn said the time had come for everyone to take responsibility for road safety.

“We’re not just talking in terms of speed, it’s about making all actions ... careful and deliberate,” she said.