Northern Region Highway Patrol boss Chief Inspector Bruce McGregor told Fairfax Media police would target speeding, fatigue, mobile phone use, seatbelts, drug and alcohol affected drivers and unsafe behaviour on the roads.

He said police would also conduct a special operation on Wednesday focussed on vehicle compliance, in which officers would check roadworthiness of vehicles, the state of tyres and other aspects of maintenance that affected road safety.

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“It gives [drivers] a chance to avoid serious injury,” he said.

“We’re trying to minimise serious crashes. We’re urging everyone to be responsible and drive sensibly.”

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Chief Inspector McGregor said motorists should also keep an eye out for pedestrians, with extra children expected to be out and about in the community while schools were taking the winter break.

He said there had been 48 fatal crashes on roads in the northern region, which stretches from the Hawkesbury River to the Queensland border, so far this year resulting in 50 deaths.