The 2018 road toll was recorded at 354, with 35 fewer fatalities on NSW roads than 2017. 

This was the biggest reduction since 2013, which recorded 36 fewer facilities than 2017. 

“It’s heartening to see that the road toll as a whole has dropped and we are committed to ongoing action but road safety is a two-way street, we all need to be our best selves when driving,” Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said. 

241 people died in country roads in 2018, which was also 26 less than 2017. 

“As a country member of parliament, I’m pleased to see the reduction in lives lost on regional areas, because it’s known while we are a third of the population, we make up two thirds of the road toll, so this result is a positive one for our regional areas,” Ms Pavey said. 

Further, the road toll decreased for speed related crashes from 167 to 138. 

In addition, there was a decrease in fatalities from heavy truck crashes from 79 to 53. 

Fatigue, drug and alcohol impairment, and the absence of seatbelts continued to be the top contributing factors for road fatalities. 

“It’s also encouraging to see a reduction by more than a thousand (1160) in serious injuries from crashes. This result is the lowest since records were first collated in 2005, with decreased hospitalisations experienced across all road users,” Ms Pavey said.