The deaths of two Riverina men aged 27 and 25, at Booroorban, approximately 46km south of Hay, were not included in the official state toll of five as they occurred on a private property.

The men were on their way to a buck’s party but never arrived.

Their upturned ute was later located on the property. 

The seven deaths compares to one person who died during the same operation last year, and takes the total number of deaths on NSW roads so far this year to 290.

Police conducted 188,323 breath tests, charged 6201 with speeding and 215 with drink-driving, and attended 313 major crashes during Operation Slow Down.

Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver, of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said people continued to speed or drive dangerously.

“It seems that despite our warnings and extra police on the roads over the weekend, too many people still made the decision to speed or drive dangerously,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.

“Tragically, five people died on our roads during the operation, and another two died on a private property.

“These deaths bring the number of lives lost on our roads this year to 290. That is 290 people who set out on a journey and didn’t make it home, changing the lives of their family and friends forever.

“Many of the 290 lives lost were avoidable tragedies. People just needed make a different decision and to slow down, put their phone away, not drive whilst they were tired or take an alternate ride home.”