Seven deaths in seven days on NSW roads

Seven deaths in as many days on NSW's roads is proof more frontline highway patrol
officers are needed, the state opposition says.
The fatalities lifted NSW's road toll to 149 so far, 32 more than the same period
in 2008 - a year in which NSW record its lowest number of traffic deaths in six
decades.
In the latest fatality, a 72-year-old woman died in a two-car collision at Casula in
Sydney's southwest on Monday.
She is one of three women and four men killed on the state's roads since April 22.
The opposition blames the redeployment of specialist traffic police for the 27 per
cent increase in road deaths compared to 2008.
"A significant number of highway patrol personnel have in fact been taken off their
core duties of road safety and road trauma and are actually working in conjunction
with various taskforces," police spokesman Mike Gallacher told reporters.
At Maitland, which should have 20 highway patrol officers stationed in the Hunter
Valley town, Mr Gallacher said only five actually work in the area.
He wants the government to adopt a policy under which all traffic police are
returned to their allocated duties.
"You've got 36 highway patrol (officers) working in conjunction with detectives
looking at the bikies issue," Mr Gallacher said.
He said highway patrol officers were also being diverted to work with Middle Eastern
Crime Gang detectives and Strike Force Piccadilly looking into a spate of ATM
explosions.
"It's true the bikies are an issue, Middle Eastern crime is an issue, but every road
death on our street is of greater importance," Mr Gallacher said.
"And it needs to be addressed immediately and the only way you're going to do that
is to bring our specialist police back and get them back onto our streets."
The government dismissed Mr Gallacher's comments, with a spokesman for Roads
Minister Tony Kelly saying the government took road deaths very seriously.
"Last year, NSW recorded the lowest road toll since World War II, so it is extremely
disappointing that there are some motorists out there who are just not getting the
message - slow down, wear a seatbelt and do not drink and drive," he said.
He denied the redeployment of traffic police meant officers were distracted from
preventing road accidents.
"Suggesting that police officers cannot work on multiple strike forces or multiple
investigations is like suggesting an accountant cannot work for multiple clients or
a doctor cannot treat multiple patients," the spokesman added.