Slow down in our small towns

Motorists who speed through western region villages are being reminded to slow down as part of a new campaign to boost road safety in some of our smallest towns.

Transport for NSW Director West Alistair Lunn said too many drivers were risking their safety and the safety of pedestrians and other road users by ignoring the need to slow down as they pass through a village, particularly at night.

The new campaign features an enhanced police presence along with speed advisory monitors, “slow down in our town” bin stickers and social media advertising over a two-week period to drive home the importance of road safety in nine western region villages.

“We have identified a number of villages where the combination of a relatively short stretch of reduced speed limit and a perceived low level of enforcement has led to too many drivers simply speeding through town, putting lives and safety at risk,” Mr Lunn said.

“The campaign focuses on residents and motorists driving through Carcoar, Lyndhurst, Wattle Flat, Lucknow, Peak Hill, Gulargambone, Enngonia, Lightning Ridge and Mungindi, but the slow down message applies to all villages throughout the state.”

In the five years to 2021 there were 1373 casualty crashes involving speed in the western region.

Sadly, these crashes resulted in 76 people killed, 529 seriously injured and 628 moderately injured.

“The safety of all road users remains our number one priority and we must all work together to reduce this terrible number of crashes,” he said.

“Drivers need to be reminded that lower speed limits apply as they pass through a village and, if they don’t slow down, they can expect to be caught.”

The two-week campaign continues until Sunday 7 May.

For more information, visit roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au.