In just four years, there have been more than 500 crashes on Wagga's roads resulting in 11 lives tragically taken too soon.
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Large yellow ribbons are being prominently displayed at Wagga Civic Centre and along several roads across the city during National Road Safety Week 2020, until November 22.
This year's theme is Drive So Others Survive. Wagga Highway Patrol acting sergeant Jamie Mooney said as a part of the campaign they will be targeting driver fatigue, speeding and distraction offences.
"They are quite prevalent, and they are a leading contributor for accidents," he said.
"It only takes a few seconds of inattention for a serious accident to happen.
"It is as simple as looking at your phone for a split second ... you can travel a long distance in a short period of time, and you never know what is going to leap out in front of you."
The Centre for Road Safety, between 2014 and 2018 reveals that in the Wagga LGA there were 579 crashes resulting in 11 deaths, with speed, alcohol and fatigue the main contributors in these events.
Sergeant Mooney said it takes a toll on emergency services to show up to horrific incidents, especially knowing that in many cases they were completely avoidable.
He added that officers could be "anywhere, anytime" and urged drivers to stick to the road rules every time they get into a car.
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"Just slow down and pay attention," Sergeant Mooney said.
Mayor Greg Conkey said the number of crashes on the region's roads was an "alarming" statistic.
"We're asking road users to think about their behaviour behind the steering wheel, what they can do to make the roads safer for all users, and to talk about driving safely with family, friends and colleagues," he said.
"Go online and pledge to not drive distracted, to not speed and to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
Nicola Gentle from Transport for NSW said that in the last year alone, 1200 Australians were killed on the nation's roads with 44,000 seriously injured.
"Traffic incidents are the major cause of death for children under the age of 15, and the second-highest cause of death for youths from 15 to 24," she said.
"I see the crash data every day, and I see an increase of people not wearing seatbelts, speeding and also distractions.
"The moment of inattention can lead to something fatal."
For details about the Drive So Others Survive pledge and the Safer Australian Roads and Highways Group, visit www.roadsafetyweek.com.au.