Key contributors include a “significant increase in road activity and business activity with the lifting of COVID restrictions, and of course, last year we had the most severe weather conditions,” Head of Transport Safety Peter Dunphy told Sky News Australia.

“The traditional things of speeding, fatigue and also the drug and alcohol have all been factors which have also contributed to the road toll,” Mr Dunphy said.

Mr Dunphy said despite the increased death toll, Transport NSW is still on track to reach their target of reducing road fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030.

National fatality rates per 100,000 population NSW 3.5 | VIC 3.6 | SA 3.85 | ACT 3.94 | QLD 5.6 | WA 6.2 | TAS 9.0 | NT 17.6