Disappointment often turned into frustration, as police continued to see drivers put themselves and other road user’s lives at risk through dangerous decisions, despite numerous warnings and an increased police presence on the roads.

Deputy Commissioner Specialist Support, Catherine Burn, said lives will continue to be lost if the community doesn’t work together and change their attitudes towards road safety.

“The New Year has just started and we don’t want to see more carnage on our roads. We had 392 people die on NSW roads in 2017, and 28 died during Operation Safe Arrival.

“The biggest tragedy is that most of the lives that were lost throughout the year and during the operation were avoidable.

“Simply put, it is poor decisions that are killing people on our roads and it’s not just the person making poor decisions that are dying, they are often taking innocent people with them.

“While we will continue enforce the road rules, we need everyone in the community to change their attitude toward road safety.  Every time you get in a car or on a bike, take responsibility for your own actions and make sure everyone around you is too.”

Operation Safe Arrival has now ended, but Deputy Commissioner Burn reminds motorists that they will continue to see an increased police presence on our roads right through to the end of the month. 

Bernard Carlon, Executive Director of the Centre for Road Safety said the big three killers on our roads are driving too fast, tired drivers and drivers who've had too much to drink.

"The big three resulted in too many deaths and serious injuries in 2017.  We all need to renew our commitment to safe behaviour behind the wheel if we're going to see the road toll come down again," Mr Carlon said.

Operation Safe Arrival commenced at 12.01am on Friday December 15, 2017 and concluded on Monday January 1, 2018 at 11.59pm.

During the Operation 28 lives were lost in 24 separate crashes across the state.