There’s been four deaths in July alone. That’s not counting Port Stephens motorists who have lost their lives while outside the area.

The death of a man at Bobs Farm on July 21, the eighth major crash within the Port Stephens police command this year, took the road toll to nine.

The toll is inching closer to being one of the worst on record in recent years.

It is close to rivalling the 2012 toll where 10 people died.

Chief Inspector Trent Le-Merton, the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command's Northern Region tactician, said many factors came into play when looking at the causes of crashes.

But he said there is no greater cause than drivers making poor choices – choices that are destroying lives.

“After all these years of campaigns and messaging, people still don’t get it,” Chief Inspector Le-Merton said.

“It is the driver that is inherently making poor decisions and those decisions are leading to tragedy.

“People have to take ownership of what they do because its poor choices that’s destroying lives; they have to take personal responsibility for their actions because those actions are having an effect on other members of the community.

“It’s not just families that are torn apart, but the emergency services who are called in time and time again to save these lives.

“For many families who lose someone through a road tragedy, the psychological effects is something many of them don’t overcome.”

A crash at Campvale in January was removed from the toll count after it was found the 64-year-old Central Coast driver had died from a heart attack, which led to him veering off Richardson Road and into a tree.

Four people have died at Tomago this year, including most recently Raymond Terrace housemates Dylan Caukwell, 28, and Josh Larsen-Church, 25.

The road toll stands at five more deaths than the same period last year.

Police are are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash that claimed the life of a 39-year-old man at Bobs Farm on July 21.

The car left Nelson Bay Road, 100 metres south of the northern Marsh Road intersection, and crashed into a light pole.

Chief Inspector Le-Merton said speed, a driver being under the influence of drugs or alcohol and not wearing a seat belt were the leading causes of road fatalities.

He noted that, across NSW, there had been a significant increase in the number of fatalities on a Tuesday and between Thursday and Sunday after 9pm.

Another trend seen in crash statistics is the involvement of “light trucks” or 4WD-capable vehicles, especially older models with lower ANCAP safety ratings.

Bernard Carlon, executive director, for the Centre for Road Safety said there was no acceptable number for deaths and injuries on the roads.

“The government is investing record amounts in road safety programs such as building safer roads and safer cars, educating drivers, and funding police enforcement, but drivers also have a personal responsibility for road safety,” Mr Carlon said.

“Drivers need to keep safety front of mind: drive to the conditions, don’t drive tired, and have a plan B to get home safely if you have a few drinks.”