A high-visibility traffic operation has concluded, with six people losing their lives on NSW roads during the Australia Day long weekend.
The annual statewide road traffic safety campaign, which ran in conjunction with the double-demerits period, began on Friday 23 January and ended on Monday 26 January 2026.
The operation involved officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with the assistance of general duties and specialist police from all police commands and districts across the state.
Officers focused on preventing and detecting dangerous and high-risk driver behaviour including speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use and seat belt and helmet offences.
In total, police conducted 9319 random drug tests, with 746 drug-driving offences detected.
Police also conducted 208,355 breath tests, with 298 drink-driving offences recorded.
Across the state, police issued 11,344 traffic infringement notices, with officers detecting 3630 speed-related offences, 365 mobile phone offences, and 220 seatbelt/helmet-related offences.
Acting Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Paul Scully said the weekend’s results were concerning.
“Many drivers are doing the right thing, but police are still seeing too many cases of people driving with little to no regard for themselves or others,” Acting Minister Scully said.
“Tragically, six people were killed on the roads this weekend. That’s six families whose lives are forever changed in the worst possible way.
“The police are doing everything they can do, they are out in force taking action against illegal behaviour but we need every driver to do their bit. Do not drive with alcohol or drugs in your system, put the phone away, wear a seatbelt and slow down – arriving a few minutes late is better than not arriving at all.”
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said speed, distraction and poor decision-making continue to put lives at risk, and the consequences were devastating.
“This has been a tragic weekend on our roads and the loss of life is both devastating and unacceptable. Every fatal crash leaves a family shattered,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“Our officers were out in force as a deterrent for poor driver behaviour, conducting random breath and drug tests and speed enforcement.
“Officers detected many high speeding offences and several drivers who were well above the legal alcohol limit.
“We will continue to maintain a strong presence on the roads, but every driver has a responsibility to make safer choices.”
