Many will travel to catch up with family and friends this Christmas, joining millions of Australians on the state’s roads and leaving homes unattended.

Orana-Mid Western Police District Inspector Dan Skelly – who is the new officer in charge for Narromine as well as Warren and Wellington – urged people to take responsibility on the road.

“We’ve all got to take responsibility for our driving,” he said.

“The responsibility is literally in our hands, in the steering wheel.

“I appeal to people to slow down, drive to the conditions, so if it’s 100 kilometres per hour and it’s raining … you would have to slow down.”

Speed and fatigue were contributing factors in 70 per cent of all road fatalities in NSW, Inspector Skelly said, while the use of a mobile phone whilst driving could also be deadly.

“Don’t drive tired. Traditionally Aussies drive long distances for their holidays,” he said.

“And keep your hands off your phone. A car travelling at 60 kilometres an hour travels 33 metres in two seconds. So if you’re looking down at your phone for two seconds, anyone could step out in front of you.

“We want to see everyone go away, have a great holiday, and then come home to talk about it.”

Inspector Skelly also urged people to take steps to secure their homes before hitting the road.

“Gone are the days where we can leave our homes unprotected,” Inspector Skelly said.

“Make sure the house is locked up securely.

“If you’ve got sliding windows, put a dowel into them so they can’t be slid open, and the same for sliding doors.”

Timed lights could be set to come on in certain rooms at certain times, he said; the key was to prevent the house from looking unattended.

“Let a trusted neighbour know you’re going away,” Inspector Skelly suggested.

“Have your mail collected and if you have a trusted friend that lives close by, give them a set of keys.

“There’s quite a range of things that people can do to protect your house as much as possible.”

Local police will once again be out in force on the roads across the state’s west this festive season, Inspector Skelly said, cracking down on anyone doing the wrong thing.

“Have a great time, have a few drinks but don’t drink and drive,” he said.

“There will be zero tolerance and we’ll be out and about seeking to find the people that have bad behaviour on the roads and making them accountable.

“Have a Plan B.”