SHADOW Minister for the Hunter Kate Washington MP has joined with local police officers to call on drivers to commit to safer driving as their 2018 resolution.

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NSW’s holiday road toll has nearly doubled in 2017 and annual road fatalities have risen for the second year in a row.

Locally, police officers from the Port Stephens Command and Highway Command have conducted almost 5,000 Random Breath Tests (RBTs) across the holiday period. Port Stephens has been fortunate to avoid any fatalities during this holiday period.

The Hunter saw over 70 road fatalities in 2017, a 70% increase on the 43 fatalities recorded in 2014.

A breakdown of figures by council area show that Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens record the highest number of road fatalities. The most recent figures from 2016 recorded ten fatalities in both Newcastle, and Port Stephens, with 9 in Lake Macquarie.

Across the state, 250,000 speeding fines were issued in 2017, equating to more than 680 speeding infringements each and every day.

Ms Washington said, “I am joining our local police to call on the residents of Port Stephens and the Hunter to commit to safer driving as their 2018 New Year resolution.”

“Tragically, road deaths have doubled across NSW this year and no-one wants to see a repeat of that again this year.”

“So it’s time for all of us to take the challenge to be a safer driver this year.”

“We can all do better – we can put down our phones, drive at the speed limit and be respectful to other road users.”

“The message is clear – commit to safer driving in 2018 to protect not just yourself and your family, but other families travelling on our roads,” she said.