A Moss Vale man has become the first road casualty of the Christmas period, after a fatal collision in Londonderry on Friday, the day the police Christmas road blitz began.
Windsor police said the 41-year-old man died after the motorcycle he was riding hit a panel van about midday.
They said the man appeared to be attempting to overtake a line of traffic on Londonderry Road when the van made a right-hand turn and collided with him.
Attempts to revive him at the scene failed.
Police are out on Southern Highlands roads in force in a bid to keep the festive season free from tragedy in the area.
There have been 22 fatalities from crashes in the Camden Local Area Command this year and officers at Mittagong Highway Patrol are keen to ensure the local road toll does not increase over the Christmas period.
As part of Operation Safe Arrival, Sergeant Dave Black and his team have begun a blitz on speeding motorists, drink drivers and people not using seatbelts, child restraints and motorcycle helmets properly.
The law enforcers are maintaining a high profile on local roads, particularly the Hume Highway and Illawarra Highway - and wrongdoers who think they can avoid being stopped by driving on less travelled back roads could have a nasty shock.
Regular random breath tests and speed checks using lidar and radar devices are expected throughout the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly, with further phases of Operation Northern Villages - targeting semi-rural roads, the site of many fatalities - scheduled.
"We are covering quite a wide area and could be in any one spot at any particular time," said Sergeant Black.
"We're working extended shifts, 12 hours a day rather than eight and a half hours as normal.
"And we're keeping five fully marked highway patrol vehicles on the road virtually around the clock."
A P-plater lost his two-day-old license on Saturday after he was caught doing 110 kph in a 60-zone in Tahmoor.
Sgt Black said P-plate drivers would be under close scrutiny during the holiday season.
"If they're breaking the law, they can expect to be stopped," said Sergeant Black.
"I don't care if we put them off the road and ruin their lives - there are too many of them who still consider driving to be a right, rather than a privilege."
Two men lost their licenses for doing 161 kph on the Hume Highway over the weekend.
Another 85 received speeding fines and three were charged with drink-driving.
Senior Sergeant Dave Chandler, who oversees traffic operations in the Camden Local Area Command, said statistics revealed that the majority of fatal crashes involved young men in their late teens travelling on semi-rural roads.
"Inquiries into many of these crashes are ongoing but alcohol is believed to be one of the leading causes," said Sergeant Chandler.
Double demerit points are being imposed for all speeding and seatbelt offences from Christmas Eve to January 4.
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