With more people travelling on the road, and relaxed attitudes leading to greater risk-taking, it’s not surprising police look to safety restraints such as double demerit points for speeding and fines for seat belt and traffic offences in the peak period.

This long weekend, Operation Slow Down will be enforcing just such measures from 12.01am Friday to midnight Monday. The force will be out in force.

Some are quick to suggest tougher holiday rules are just a revenue-raiser, yet the fact remains: motorists and passengers continue to die on our roads. Roads and Maritime Services data counts 291 lives lost this year to date; up on 254 in 2015.

The reality that more people are dying on our roads is not enough to discourage risk-taking in others, so maybe a hit in the hip pocket is what it will take. To lose a licence is far better than to take a life.

Speaking of taking a hit, the community has been whacked with unexpected developments in its health facilities lately.

Firstly, Goulburn Base is revealed to be seeking a public-private partnership deal along with four other regional NSW hospitals. Its upcoming $120 million re-development is still canvassing alternative options for the landlocked Goldsmith Street site.

Then a greenfields health hub says it knew of the privatisation bid five months ago, and lobbies for its own hospital facilities.

Next, Bourke Street Health Services staff are told their site will close by the end of 2017; some units, possibly before then. They were anticipating this in another five years, when the Base would be up to scratch; not before the first sod has been turned.

Meanwhile, Warrigal announces it will employ 457 visa workers in Goulburn, and cuts a local chemist for a Mittagong supplier.

Not all of these revelations about the increasing commodification of health are necessarily related, but someone, somewhere, holds the pen that joins these dots, while the rest of us look on and try to make out the bigger picture.

Remember, daylight saving begins in NSW on Sunday, October 2, when clocks go forward one hour at 2am (to 3am), but try not to lose sleep over losing a little sleep.