NSW Police's Rural Crime Prevention Team has posted a reminder on social media that motorists need to give way to livestock on roadways.
"Unfortunately there have been several incidents of motorists travelling through stock zones and not giving way to livestock on or near the road," police said.
"This has resulted in damage to vehicles and injury/death of livestock. Some livestock have been required to be euthanised on the spot due to their severe injuries and suffering."
The post mentions clause 53 of the Local Land Services Regulation 2014 which refers to offences relating to stock zones. Sub-section 3 of the clause states 'the driver of a mechanically powered vehicle must give way to stock and to all other animals and any vehicle accompanying stock in a stock zone'.
"It is an offence if the driver does not comply and maximum penalty is 20 penalty units," police reminded drivers.
Motorists should realise that a stock zone includes a permanent stock zone and a temporary stock zone, which are areas identified by signs indicating livestock are on the road.
"In the interest of public safety and to prevent animals being injured or killed, we need all motorists to be aware of this law. We do not want to see a person injured or worse, killed, due to a collision with livestock who are authorised to be within the stock zone," police said.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team also put a call out to livestock owners to ensure they are using the correct signs and giving motorists plenty of warning.
Clause 54 of the regulation states that 'a person moving or grazing stock on or near any part of a public road that is not a permanent stock zone must display a temporary stock zone sign' and, 'must remove the temporary stock zone sign when the stock are no longer on or near any part of a public road'.
A temporary stock zone sign is to be 'positioned so that there is not more than five kilometres, and not less than 200 metres, between the sign and the place where a vehicle being driven towards the stock would first encounter the stock'.
Maximum penalty for livestock owners who don't comply is also 20 penalty units.
"We all have a duty of care to ensure public safety and the safety of livestock," police said.
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