One of the great joys of living in a small town is the chance to share in the success of others and to really feel part of something bigger than yourself.

When the Tigers were winning, there was only one topic of conversation in the local pubs and cafes – and everyone had a smile on their face.

Tragically, those smiles are missing today as the town again comes together and again shares a single story – this time the tragic death of two young men in a single vehicle crash on Saturday morning.

Jack Fenton and Luke Foley, who both proudly wore the Oberon Tigers colours, suffered fatal injuries in the crash while their mate Riley McFawn remains in hospital.

The town that was celebrating together earlier this year is now mourning as one.

Sadly, Oberon is not the only town going through such trauma this week.

Jack and Luke were just two of the eight people who died in five crashes within a few hours of each other over the weekend, prompting yet another warning from police about the need to take care on the roads.

A total of 320 people have died on NSW roads in 2016, 38 more than the same period last year. And unfortunately, the western region is over-represented in that figure.

That doesn’t even include the number of people who have been seriously injured.

So police have made yet another plea for all of us to take extra care on the roads.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Acting Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy summed it up perfectly when he addressed the media about the high number of fatalities on Monday.

“Before you venture out on the road, ask yourself the question; What can I do today to survive? What action can I take to ensure that I, and people around me, are not at risk of being injured or killed on the road?” he said.

It’s a powerful message for every driver that gets behind the wheel.

Police are aiming for a road toll of zero and dedicate millions of dollars in resources every year to try and make that a reality.

And while we likely will never get there, that should be the aim for all of us.

The legacy of too many deaths on the road must be an awareness that none of us is bullet-proof – young or old.