Local News
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MODELS FROM Each year fireworks at Brunswick Heads mark the beginning of the annual Festival of the Fish n Chips, which incorporates the Woodchop, Carnival and of course a fishing competition. This year the Woodchop turns 50 and the action gets underway this coming Wednesday. Photo Jeff ‘Crackers’ Dawson
Northern region road toll increases An RTA spokesperson said there had been a disappointing increase in the yearly road toll across Northern NSW. ‘It is extremely tragic to know that 69 people lost their lives on Northern NSW roads last year – that’s 69 too many.’ The spokesperson said the provisional end of year 2009 road toll of 69 in the Northern region was five deaths higher than 2008. The provisional 2009 end of year road toll for NSW of 460 was a 23 per cent increase on the previous year which had been a record low 374. The 2008 road toll was the lowest since World War II but last year numbers climbed again. ‘It is no clichĂŠ to say every death on NSW roads is
a tragedy for the friends and family of those involved,’ the spokesperson said. Speed remains a major factor in fatalities throughout NSW and had increased by 40 per cent in 2009. ‘Last year 46 per cent of fatalities involved speed – 213 people died in speed related crashes in 2009, compared with 152 in 2008, a 40% increase. ‘People are becoming com-
placent and thinking that driving even five or ten kilometres above the speed limit is acceptable or that a crash won’t happen to them. ‘Unfortunately nothing could be further from the truth and that is reflected in the fact that people are killed at a rate of more than one a day. ‘While speed remains the highest killer on the roads, fatigue is also an issue. In 2009, 18 per cent of the fatalities involved fatigue, compared to 16
per cent of fatalities in 2008. ‘Since 1994 the number of vehicles on NSW roads has increased 15 fold, the number of licensed motorists has increased 11 fold and the NSW population has doubled. ‘Sadly, the key issues on NSW roads remain speeding, driving while fatigued and drink-driving. Drivers are urged to stick to the speed limit and drive to road conditions, not to drink and drive and to plan ahead for trips, including rest breaks.’
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106 Stuart St Mullumbimby 6684 2511 The Byron Shire Echo January 12, 2010 3