This too is what Fairfax Media is aiming to achieve with our FIX IT NOW campaign – to put a stop to the senseless deaths on our roads, in particular the Princes Highway south of Nowra.

Everyone agrees – too many lives have been lost. But it must be a collective effort.

Sadly, we have already lost 118 lives on NSW roads this year. More than two-thirds of those lives lost are in regional areas.

The first phase of Operation Chrome runs from today (Friday, April 27) until Sunday, April 29.

While we welcome this added scrutiny on our roads, it must be accompanied by improvements to our roads to minimise the impact of a driver’s poor decision.

The roads need to be more forgiving should a motorist make an error.

Drivers and riders should expect to see more police on rural roads and highways in the southern region over the coming days and should expect to be caught out for doing the wrong thing.

Police will be targeting poor driver behaviours that are costing lives on rural roads.

If you are speeding, drink and drug-driving, not wearing seatbelts, using a mobile phone while driving and showing signs of fatigue behind the wheel, you will be caught.

The operation will utilise police from all Police Districts within the southern region, working alongside officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie, Commander of the Southern Region, said reducing rural road trauma is a priority for the entire southern region.

“During Operation Chrome, it will not only be officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol that will be tasked with keeping everyone safe on our roads,” he said.

“If you are on our roads and doing something wrong you can expect to be stopped by detectives in an unmarked car, general duties police, or one of our highway patrol officers.

“Our primary aim is to stop fatal crashes before they happen. To do that, we make no apologies for enforcing the road rules that are the biggest contributors to fatal crashes.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. If every driver or rider takes personal responsibility for their actions, it will save lives. It’s that simple.”

Hayley Warden