A motorcyclist has died in a crash with a truck in New South Wales, as the state's road toll reaches 226, putting it on track to be the worst in 15 years. The collision occurred on Tuesday on the Barton Highway at Jeir, about 30 kilometres south of Yass. The motorcyclist, a 78-year-old man, died at the scene. The truck driver, a man in his 40s, was treated by paramedics and taken to Yass Hospital for mandatory testing.
The latest death follows six fatalities in separate crashes in the state's north between Friday and Sunday. The road toll for 2025 now stands at 226, compared to 194 at the same time last year. Transport for NSW data shows a comparable toll in 2010, when 238 lives were lost by the start of August.
Acting Commander Ben MacFarlane of the North-West Traffic Region expressed concern, saying the increase is disheartening for officers working to reduce crashes. He urged drivers to take responsibility, noting that even with more police, driver behaviour is key. MacFarlane highlighted that 10-15% of people in crashes are not wearing seatbelts.
The NRMA's Peter Khoury called for legislative changes to address smartphone distractions, as technology outpaces laws. Road Trauma Support Group co-founder Tom Daher, whose father was killed by a drug-affected driver, expressed sympathy for recent victims and urged efforts to stop the carnage.
