Sergeant Stephen Pidgeon, of Yass Highway Patrol, said police would be focusing on the highway in an effort to reduce dangerous driver behaviour.

"Speed, fatigue, distraction and impatience are all factors that increase the risk of a serious collision," he said.

"Particularly for the large number of drivers that travel this road every day, it is far too easy to become complacent."

There were 133 crashes on the Barton Highway in the five years from 2010 to 2014, seven people were killed and 111 were injured.

"We have run this campaign each year for five years, combining safety messages with increased police enforcement and we are seeing results," Yass Valley Council road safety officer Melissa Weller said.

"Barton Highway crash numbers (recorded with speed as a causal factor) have fallen from a high of 25 per cent in 2010 to 8.3 per cent in 2014.

"Disturbingly 22 per cent of crashes have fatigue recorded as a causal factor and police are also very concerned about drivers' use of mobile phones.".

NSW crash data from 2010 to 2014 showed there were 236 crashes where hand-held mobile phone use by drivers was identified as a contributing factor.

This included seven fatal crashes.

From July 2014 to June 2015, more than 35,300 fines were issued to drivers in NSW for using mobile phones,

"Motorists need to be responsible and consider the impact that road trauma can have, this includes taking a break or not driving if they are feeling tired, avoiding distractions like mobile phones and driving to the conditions and speed limits," Ms Weller said.

The NSW government has announced the demerit penalty for mobile phone use while driving would be increased to six points during the Christmas period.

– Yass Tribune