Data from NSW State Revenue Office shows an average of 150 police-issued speeding fines were dished out in the Orange area each month between from July to December last year, with no numbers available beyond that.

That trend compares well to previous the previous financial year when an average of 184 drivers were clocked over the speed limit month-to-month, with more than $500,000 paid out from fines in that 12 month period.

In the first five months of the 2020-21 financial year 749 drivers have been handed police-issued speeding fines in the area formerly known as Canobolas Local Area Command, which has come under the Central West Police District banner since 2017.

Seventeen of those were caught in school zones, with another five being caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour.

If that trend continues the total number of fines handed out during this financial year will be substantially reduced compared to the 2,213 issued in the previous 12 months.

They will, however, exceed what proved to be a incredible decline in the 2018-19 financial year when just 1,641 speeding fines were handed out in the region.

With statistics only going back a further two years, that was the only 12-month period where the total number of fines dipped below 2,000.

Across the entire Central West Police District there has, so far, been 1,141 speeding offences lodged which equates to around 228 per month, a similar decline in terms of averages compared to last financial year.

Although the apparent decrease appears positive the road toll in NSW remains concerningly high, even if they were at a record low in 2020. An alarming total of 297 people still died on roads across the state last year, with 44 of those recorded in regional areas.

That's led to Operation Trance kicking off in the state's Western Region, the blitz will be aimed at reducing trauma on rural roads.

Although it does fall outside the Central West district the message behind it applies, with North West Region Traffic Coordinator Sergeant Kelly Wixx urging all drivers to continue being safe and aware on the roads.

"Having a high visibility presence on our roads provides an immediate check for drivers to moderate their behaviour and comply with the road rules - we want people to get where they need to be safely," she said.

"This means showing patience with other drivers, staying off your phone and ensuring everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seatbelt," she said.

"We all share the road, so we are all responsible for safety and compliance."

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