Community & Business
14 December, 2025
NSW road toll rises
With the busy holiday season approaching and traffic volumes expected to surge, this is a stark reminder that real action is needed to prevent further loss of life.
NSW has reached a devastating milestone today with the road toll reaching 352 in the past 12 months, that’s a death a day on NSW roads.
Shadow minister for police and member for Bathurst, Paul Toole, said regional areas remain disproportionately affected.
“Regional families, first responders, and whole communities are carrying the weight of these tragedies.
“In the last few weeks, deadly crashes have torn through our regional communities taking lives that we can’t replace.
“Despite less people living in regional areas, the country accounts for more than 70 per cent of all road fatalities. This is an unacceptable statistic.
“It shows that immediate attention is required to improve safety on regional and rural roads by focusing on better safety infrastructure, road upgrades and more educational campaigns.”
Mr Toole acknowledged the efforts of the NSW Police Force.
“I commend the NSW Police Force for their continued dedication to road safety.
Their efforts on the ground, especially through high visibility operations and enforcement campaigns, are saving lives every day.
“Our police deserve stronger support and resourcing from the NSW Labor government to bring the road toll down.”
A reminder as we head into one of the busiest travel periods of the year, all drivers are urged to prioritise safety:
• Slow down and stick to speed limits
• Never drive tired—take regular breaks
• Avoid distractions, including mobile phones
• Plan ahead and allow extra travel time
• Never drink or drug drive
“No one wants to see the road toll rise over the festive season and there is certainly no excuse for speeding, drink driving or using a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel of a car,” Mr Toole said.
