So far this year 116 people have lost their lives on the state's roads, which is 11 more than for the same period last year, data from the Centre for Road Safety revealed.

Fatigue is one of the three biggest killers on NSW roads, with research showing it can be as dangerous as other road safety issues like drink driving.

That is why Mr Bolitho said the creation of more roadside rest areas was absolutely vital to help keep motorists safe.

In July last year he made a plea to 120 regional NSW councils, member for Orange Phil Donato, the then Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey, the NRMA and other road safety experts to help combat driver fatigue.

His idea was simple: a rest stop every 10 kilometres - with accompanying signs to alert approaching motorists - using ready-made sites already available.

The Orange resident called for suitable sites that required minimal or no civil works to be identified for use as rest stops, adding signage was a "critical issue".

"If you have a gravel site or an old alignment, the cost of having four signs, two for each approach, would be $5000 a site, but if you put it out to tender you'd get it a lot cheaper," Mr Bolitho said.

"I was hoping they'd get back to me saying 'why didn't we think of this'."

Mr Bolitho said the lack of signposted roadside rest stops meant motorists often did not realise they were approaching a suitable stopping area until it was too late.

"All they [rest stops] need is signs to alert drivers they're coming up," he said.

"Driver tiredness comes up on you, it comes up on you very quickly."

Mr Bolitho said Mr Donato was one of the few who responded to his calls for help.

The MP wrote two letters to Mr Bolitho and in one stated that he had a "particular interest" in this matter due to his 20 years as a police officer. These letters have been provided to Australian Community Media.

"I saw firsthand the devastating effects that driving fatigued can cause," Mr Donato wrote.

A spokesperson for Mr Donato said the MP had made representations to the then Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey on July 20, 2018 and again on February 21, 2019.

The NSW government went into caretaker period on March 1 ahead of the state election and was such unable to reply to the correspondence.