More than 1000 Riverina drivers were put to the test as part of a major police operation across the weekend.
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The crackdown followed an alarming increase in fatalities and crashes across the Riverina, with close-to 10 deaths recorded across the region and surrounds so far this year.
But it is not only this region that has felt the impact of road-related tragedies.
The Australian Road Safety Foundation last week revealed the national road toll was up almost 20 per cent, compared to the same period last year.
In NSW alone, 119 lives had been lost before April 29. The road toll was at 103 this time last year.
In an effort to stem the sorrowful data spike, police were out in force from Thursday through to Sunday, targeting poor driving behaviour as part of Operation Chrome.
It comes as the school holiday period comes to an end, with families returning home from time spent outside the region.
The Riverina’s Highway Patrol command revealed officers had conducted more than 1200 random breath tests between Friday and Saturday.
Additional police numbers aided in 744 RBTs and 21 random drug tests across the region on Saturday.
As a result, a total of 21 penalty notices were issued.
Two drink driving charges and two other charges for traffic offences followed, according to Highway Patrol.
This added to a total 482 RBTs and 25 random drug tests, conducted on Friday.
More than 30 penalty notices follows, with ten charges also issued for varied offences including drink driving.
Riverina Police District Inspector Peter McLay last week reminded road users to be careful and “do the right thing” when driving.
His words came after ARSF research further showed 91 per cent of the drivers believed road crashes to be the result of bad decisions or attitudes.
But even though most surveyed agreed more needed to be done to prevent road accidents, four in five drivers said preventing road deaths was the responsibility of the road users themselves.
“We’ve had some pretty serious accidents already this year – some of those we suspect are as a result of fatigue or alcohol impaired drivers,” Inspector McLay said.
“We need to remind people to be careful when driving, not to speed or drink alcohol and attempt to drive or use mobile phones.”