WITH National Road Safety Week currently underway, Moree NRMA country service centre proprietor Doug Hill reminds motorists across north-western New South Wales to drive patiently and carefully as heavy machinery and road-trains go about their business during one the busiest times of the year for the agriculture sector.

“The cotton harvest is in full swing, and many people just don’t realise how long some of these trucks and pieces of machinery are, especially those wide trailers carrying machinery from one location to another,” Mr Hill said.

“There are also plenty of trucks carting cotton to gins across the district, so please be patient while all this machinery is on the road.”

Mr Hill also advises travellers new to the Moree district to be mindful of kangaroos and other wildlife.

“Please be careful, especially during the early hours of the morning and at dusk when kangaroos are about. They’re a bit quiet at this time of year, but they’re still about,” he said.

National Road Safety Week comes at the same time NRMA has launched a safety campaign as wheel and tyre damage spikes across New South Wales, especially on rural and regional roads.

“There has been a lot of rain in the district in recent months and the roads are pretty rough at the moment, which means tyre and rim damage is prevalent,” Mr Hill said.

New data from the NRMA reveals damage to wheels and tyres have hit almost 45,000 calls for help across the state so far this year, with wet weather expected to see the number increase in coming weeks.

More than 9200 calls for help have been recorded in the first 28 days of April alone.

An alarming increase in the road toll in recent weeks and the findings of NRMA’s breakdowns analysis has led to the organisation launching a grassroots campaign designed to mobilise the community around addressing the causes of deaths and injuries on roads and saving lives.

Moree NRMA country service centre proprietor Doug Hill and roadside-assist mechanic Corey Scriven ask motorists across north-western New South Wales to practice patience and be cautious with the cotton harvest in full swing.

Spokesperson Peter Khoury said the NRMA was committed to mobilising its members and the broader community to deliver policy outcomes that will ultimately save lives.

“No one knows the issues on local roads better than the locals who drive them – the road toll is again too high in 2025 and the NRMA needs the community’s help to bring about change,” Mr Khoury said.

Taking part in the NRMA’s Reckoning on our Roads campaign is easy. The form is accessible on smartphones and desktops and will remain open until May 16.

The NRMA will leverage community feedback as part of a state-wide campaign launched during National Road Safety Week, which runs until May 18. To have your say, visit Reckoning on our Roads .

National Road Safety Week is an annual initiative of the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, which was launched by Peter Frazer, following the tragic loss of his daughter Sarah at a road crash in 2012.

Sarah, then aged 23, was driving to Wagga Wagga to begin her university degree when her car broke down on the Hume Highway near Mittagong.

She pulled into the emergency breakdown lane and called for assistance before another vehicle collided into her and the tow truck driver, killing them both.

“We urge all drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users to pledge their commitment to road safety, so that we can ensure that everyone gets home safe to their loved ones, every day with no exceptions,” Mr Frazer said.

“I don’t want any other family, friend or professional network, or community to experience the loss we went through when we lost our darling Sarah.

“She never leaves our hearts or minds for a minute and this week we are asking people to be aware of their own behaviour on the roads to make it safer for everyone,” he said.

“We have to recognise the vast majority of these crashes occur in circumstances that are completely avoidable. It’s imperative that we unite to make our roads safer, as every death or serious injury is one too many.”

To coincide with the launch of National Road Safety Week, the NSW Government launched a powerful new website to shine a light on those affected by crashes on the state’s road network.

Beyond the crash: Real life stories highlights the people behind the road crash statistics, reinforcing that every death on the roads isn’t just a number, but represents a real person, and a ripple effect felt by families, friends, and communities.

To find out more, go to: Beyond the Crash.

National Road Safety Week

When: May 11 to 18

NRMA Roadside Assistance: 13 11 11