A woman who almost became the 26th pedestrian to die on NSW roads this year is recovering in hospital as police urge drivers to slow down.
The woman, aged in her 50s, was struck when crossing a road in Merrylands on Friday morning, NSW Ambulance said.
She was rushed to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition before she stabilised on Friday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.
NSW Police on Friday implored road users to take "personal responsibility" to reduce the road toll, which is nine higher than the same time last year.
Of the 160 lives lost on the state's roads so far in 2019, 76 were drivers, 29 passengers, 25 motorcyclists, 25 pedestrians and five cyclists.
Two in three deaths were on country roads.
"The key to road safety is personal responsibility," Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said in a statement to mark the nationwide Fatality Free Friday campaign.
"We know that speeding, drink or drug driving, driving fatigued, distracted, or without a seat belt, are all the key factors in serious injury and fatal crashes on our roads."
Mr Corboy implored pedestrians to do their part by ensuring "they wear bright coloured clothing, cross the road at designated traffic controlled points and not second guess the speed of oncoming traffic".
