NSW Police have wrapped up the Easter Long Weekend traffic operation with a warning to motorist to remain vigilant and safe on our road ahead the ANZAC Day Long weekend.
NSW Police conducted a high-visibility presence across the state during Operation Easter 2025, which saw a significant number of motorists travelling across the state to visit family and friends during the school holidays.
Double demerits were in place from Thursday 17 April 2025 and concluded on Monday 21 April 2025 for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone, and motorcycle helmet offences.
Three people died on NSW roads, compared to seven for the same period the previous year (2024). The fatalities increase the road toll to 107 this year.
The Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with local police, patrolled roads across the state, targeting double demerit offences including the Fours Ds – drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving – with the aim of preventing injury and death.
During the period, police saw a number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, drink and drug driving, and reckless driving.
Across the state, police issued 4,892 speed infringements, conducted 268,274 breath tests with 340 people charged with drink-driving, and there were 802 positive detections for drug driving.
Officers attended 339 major crashes, resulting in 111 people injured.
There were 486 mobile phone offences detected and 318 restraint related offences.
Acting Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Tara Moriarty, said any life lost on the roads is one too many.
"Three people lost their lives over the weekend - that's three families now dealing with the unimaginable," Minister Moriarty said.
"While the majority of drivers are doing the right thing, it only takes a few risky decisions to change lives in an instant. These are preventable tragedies.
"With the ANZAC Day long weekend coming up, I'm encouraging everyone to make safe choices - take your time, stay focused, and do not get behind the wheel if you've been drinking or taking drugs.
"Police will be out in force again, targeting dangerous driving - speeding, distraction, and impairment. Everyone has a part to play in keeping our roads safe."
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said police would continue to run these operations in order to keep the community safe and target dangerous and irresponsible driving behaviour.
"Sadly, there were three lives lost on NSW roads during the Easter Long Weekend, which is three lives too many, with a number of crashes also resulting in people sustaining critical injuries" Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"Alarmingly, we continue to detect a high number of drivers testing positive to drugs during roadside testing, and this is not acceptable.
"This is a timely reminder, ahead of the Anzac Day Long Weekend this weekend, to drive responsibly, follow the road rules so everyone can get to their destination safely."
Double demerit will again be enforced from Thursday 24 April 2025 until Sunday 27 April 2025.
Some items of interest during the operation include:
- About 5.15pm on Friday, police were patrolling the Lindendale area when they attempted to stop a Mercedes Benz sedan on the Bruxner Highway. When the driver allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, the sedan allegedly reached speeds of 200km/h before it crashed near Wardell. The driver – a 20-year-old man – was uninjured and arrested at the scene. He was taken to Ballina Police Station, where he was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended. The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday 21 May 2025.
- About 10.50pm on Friday, police stopped a Toyota sedan on the New England Highway, Uralla, for random breath testing. The unaccompanied learner driver – a 31-year-old man – allegedly failed to provide a licence and returned a breath analysis of 0.077. The man was charged with drive with low range prescribed concentration of alcohol, learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester, drive motor vehicle not carry licence and learner driver not display "L" plates as prescribed. He will appear before Armidale Local Court on Monday 2 June 2025.
- About 11am last Friday, police were called to Burraneer Bay Road, Caringbah South, following reports of a crash. Officers arrived to find a Mitsubishi SUV had collided into a parked LDV utility. The driver of the SUV – a 48-year-old woman – was uninjured and allegedly returned a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station where she returned a breath analysis of 0.377. The woman was charged with drive with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol and will appear before Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 5 June 2025.
- About 3pm on Saturday 19 April 2025, police attached to Taree Highway Patrol observed a 63-year-old man allegedly driving a ride on lawnmower on Kanangra Drive, Taree, and carrying a takeaway meal. It allegedly did not have registration plates, which are required on a vehicle exceeding 400kg. The man allegedly could not produce his driver's licence and he allegedly had not held an active licence since 1986. The man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice to appear at Taree Local Court on Tuesday 17 June 2025.
- About 8.30pm on Saturday, police attached to Botany Bay Highway Patrol were carrying out stationary speed enforcement on Beauchamp Road, Matraville, when they allegedly detected a driver of a BMW X5, travelling 130km/h in a 50km/h zone. Police stopped the driver – a 32-year-old man – and he was arrested after allegedly failing a roadside breath test. The man allegedly returned a reading of 0.180 during a breath analysis. He was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, class A motor vehicle exceed speed greater than 45km/h, drive with high range prescribed concentration of alcohol and drive when driver visiting privilege withdrawn. He is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on Monday 28 May 2025.
- At 10.45am on Sunday, police attached to Wollongong Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement in the Royal National Park. Officers allegedly detected a 58-year-old man was riding a motorcycle at 125km/h in a 60km/h area. He was stopped and issued a $2959 infringement notice for exceed speed greater than 45km/h, and his licence suspended for six months.
- Shortly before 7am on Monday, police attached to Mittagong Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the Hume Motorway, Mittagong. Officers detected a Ford Mustang allegedly travelling at 238km/h in a 110km/h zone. Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to the P2 provisional driver. The 18-year-old male driver allegedly did not have p-plates displayed and his car was seized for three months. The 18-year-old man was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for drive recklessly/furiously or at a speed or manner dangerous; exceed the speed limit greater than 45 km/hr, and not comply with condition of licence. He is due to appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 20 May 2025.
Key statistics state-wide:
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 14,399
Speed infringements: 4,892
Breath tests: 268,274
PCA charges: 340
Positive drug-driving tests: 802
Major crashes: 339
Fatalities: 3
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 3,784
Speed infringements: 1,450
Breath tests: 52,433
PCA charges: 96
Positive drug-driving tests: 222
Major crashes: 70
Fatalities: 0
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Southern Region
Total infringements: 2,440
Speed infringements: 1,231
Breath tests: 42,698
PCA charges: 44
Positive drug-driving tests: 167
Major crashes: 44
Fatalities: 2
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Western Region
Total infringements: 1351
Speed infringements: 581
Breath tests: 27,803
PCA charges: 40
Positive drug-driving tests: 120
Major crashes: 15
Fatalities: 1
