There are people walking around "at work, school, you name it" who have no idea they are going to die on the state's roads this weekend, a senior NSW government minister has declared.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance on Thursday took a novel approach when he joined police in pleading for drivers to take care on NSW roads over the Queen's Birthday long weekend.
"There are people walking around our community today, at work, school, you name it, who are going to die this weekend. Their lives are going to end," he told reporters in Sydney.
"That's the unfortunate nature of road accidents, they happen when people don't expect it."
The minister was speaking a day after two men lost their lives on NSW roads.
A 45-year-old man died on Wednesday morning when his car smashed into a tree at Mystery Bay, and a truck driver died when his semi-trailer rolled at Binna Burra shortly before midnight.
The state's road toll now stands at 165, which is 12 more than the same time last year. More than two-thirds of the fatalities have been men.
NSW Police say speeding, fatigue and drink and drug driving are the biggest killers on the state's roads.
Double demerits will be in place from Friday to Monday, with extra officers on the roads to keep people safe.
Additionally, for the first time ever on a long weekend, low-range drink drivers will be slapped with an on-the-spot three-month licence suspension and ordered to pay a $561 fine.
More than 100 people have so far lost their licences as a result of the new laws which came into effect on May 20.
The NSW Transport Workers Union on Thursday took to social media to express its frustration with a perceived lack of government action to improve safety in the transport industry.
"In NSW our former roads and freight minister thought it was OK to suggest truck drivers get electrocuted in their seats to help them concentrate on the road," the TWU tweeted.
"We are still awaiting a sound policy from the NSW govt for a safer and fairer transport industry."
Former roads minister Melinda Pavey in early 2018 said technology was now so advanced "a driver can ... get an electric shock if they look away from the windscreen for more than two seconds".
