Long Weekend Road Worries

LOCAL police are imploring drivers to be safe on the roads this long weekend.

Long weekends often involve a combination of risk factors on our roads such as increased traffic, impatient drivers, time constraints, speed, fatigue, inexperienced drivers, poor weather conditions and drink driving.

Inspector Guy Guiana said people need to plan their trips better and be aware the Upper Hunter does not have a good road record at the moment.

New England Highway facing south of Scone.

“People are often pushed for time, they focus on their time of arrival rather than having a safe trip,” said Inspector Guiana.

“We’re asking people to plan their trip ahead of time, know how far you have to travel and make sure you allow sufficient time to drive and rest on the way,” he said.

“Be aware that police will be out in force, double demerit points are in force over the weekend and we just want everyone to have a safe and happy long weekend.

“The Upper Hunter is an area that unfortunately does experience a lot of fatal and serious injury crashes and this year has been quite bad and we would like to see that trend revered,” he said.

“Highway patrol and general duty will be out performing random breath testing, if you are going to drive, do so but certainly don’t drink or take drugs,” Guy Guiana said.