See and be seen: make good choices and arrive safely
With longer trips and busy highways expected this Christmas, the Sturt Highway Taskforce is urging motorists to “see and be seen” – turn on headlights, look carefully before overtaking, and avoid risky distractions, like using your mobile phone illegally while driving.
Taskforce Chair and Murrumbidgee Mayor Ruth McRae OAM said poor visibility, risky overtaking and driver distractions such as mobile phone use are common factors in serious crashes, particularly on rural highways.
On country roads, running off the road or losing control is far more deadly – three times more likely on straight stretches and four times more likely on curves.
Drivers are encouraged to:
- Use headlights at all times.
- Be patient behind slower vehicles and wait for safe overtaking opportunities.
- Don’t overtake near crests, corners or intersections.
- Never use a mobile phone illegally while driving – even to check messages.
- Ensure headlights and brake lights are working before leaving for your trip.
Wentworth Shire Council Mayor Daniel Linklater said “even momentary lapses in concentration can have devastating outcomes. Keeping yourself and your family safe starts with giving the road your full attention. Put the phone away, slow down, and stay alert to what is happening around you. One careless decision can change lives forever,” he said.
The Sturt Highway Taskforce includes the councils of Wagga Wagga, Narrandera, Leeton, Hay, Murray River, Balranald, Wentworth and Murrumbidgee. The group advocates for investment in safety, infrastructure and freight efficiency along the 605-kilometre highway, which connects Tarcutta in NSW to Adelaide via Victoria and South Australia.
Source:
Transport for NSW, “Interactive Crash Statistics – Crashes by type and region, accessed 31 October 2025, https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/statistics/interactive-crash-statistics/road-users-by-behavioural-factors-crashes
