Acting Traffic Tactician for the Western Region Jason Bush said that over the Christmas and New Year period there was a high level of traffic through the region.

"While most vehicles did behave to drive to the conditions and relevant road rules, we still came across a small element that are willing to take unnecessary risks,” he said.

These risks included drink driving, not adhering to the speed limits, and not recognising fatigue levels.

In the lead up to the Australia Day weekend Inspector Bush said the Western Region would see a heavy police presence, with police focusing their attention on those drivers that choose to speed, fail to wear seat belts and drive under the influence.

"Our message is that there are obvious risks involved in operating motor vehicles,” he said.

“Operators need to be responsible for their own vehicles, and not only take care of themselves, but other road users.

"We urge motorists to recognise and act on their levels of fatigue whilst driving."

Detailed data from the Roads and Maritime Services has revealed that almost 250 people have died on Central West and Orana region roads with a further 2000 seriously injured since 2012. 

The data reveals what is killing motorists on Western NSW roads and it shows that a majority of accidents could have been prevented.

In the Orana region 38 per cent of deaths were related to speed, 25 per cent of accidents were fatigue related and 16 per cent were caused due to illegal alcohol.​

Over the Christmas and New Year period, Darling River Command police issued 73 speeding infringements, 23 other tickets and conducted 2016 breath tests.

In the entire western region there were 53,768 breath tests conducted, and from those, there were 116 alcohol-related charges.

Police dealt out 111 seatbelt tickets, 2111 speeding infringements and 1351 other tickets, across the wider region.