It follows the tragic loss of four lives on southern-region NSW roads since the start of January, dragging the state’s road toll to 22 – the same as this time last year. 

Road-crash rescue personnel say it’s hard to identify one common factor but speeding, alcohol consumption and fatigue-related incidences are still occurring. 

Senior Constable Benjamin Rice from Griffith Highway Patrol recently said there are a few putting the lives of many in danger on on the road.

“This year we have had far too many drivers killed and injured on our roads,” Constable Rice said.

“These people who take these unnecessary risks are not only putting themselves in danger, but putting other road users in danger as well.

“It's pretty simple, obey the laws so we all go home to our loved ones.”

Wagga paramedic and station officer Darren Rudd said the ripple effect of deaths on roads was far-reaching, often impacted families, extended families, friends and the emergency service workers who attended the scenes. 

“Maybe the messages aren’t getting out there as much as we’d like to see them,” he said. 

“In my personal opinion, the shock-factor TV ads were good.”

Mr Rudd said he thought the Roads and Maritime Services Towards Zero Driving Fatalities project was “fantastic”.

But the messages that stuck in his head showed the raw emotion and immediate impact of road trauma. 

“We don’t seem to see shock and awe anymore,” he said.

“I can only work on what I believe and they scared the buggery out of me.”

Volunteer Rescue Association squad captain Tim Lidden said he agreed with Mr Rudd. 

He said it was frustrating when it seemed like the message wasn’t getting through.

Yet despite the notable spike road deaths, the southern-region traffic tactician inspector Scott Nelson said the state’s statistics remained steady across a three-year average.

“We’re constantly working with the Centre for Road Safety to look at getting messaging out there,” Inspector Nelson said. 

“We can do only as much as we can but at the end of the day, we can’t control the blob of genetics that’s driving.”

The inspector said if you didn’t speed, drink and drive, you put on your seat belt, put your phone away and took plenty of breaks, you’ll get home alive. 

Looking at the big picture, the NSW Centre for Road Safety executive director, Bernard Carlon, said the combination of education, enforcement and engineering had been “hugely” successful in ultimately reducing the road toll.

In an example, he said the centre was reducing alcohol-related trauma as a result of random breath testing and the Plan B campaign.

Mr Carlon said campaigns aimed to shock and reinforce the message that road deaths were not just numbers.