Police have charged hundreds of motorists for speeding, drink driving and other dangerous driving offences during Operation Christmas/New Year 2024.
Operation Christmas/New Year 2024 commenced at 12.01am Friday (20 December 2024) and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 January 2025).
Double demerit points were in force for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
The Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with local police, patrolled roads across the state, targeting dangerous driving behaviour and risks on the roads – with the aim of preventing injury and death.
During the period, police saw a concerning number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, high-range drink-driving, and reckless driving.
Police issued 9,719 speed infringements, laid 720 drink-driving charges and 1,725 positive roadside drug detections, attended 1,009 major crashes, and conducted 438,328 breath tests.
Ten people died in crashes over the period, four more than during the operation last year.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracey Chapman, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said that she still can't comprehend why drivers choose to disobey road rules during the festive period.
"We have seen an increase in dangerous drivers, with some of the highest numbers of speeding and drink driving offences being detected during this festive period.
"Many of these drivers will accuse police of ruining their fun during the Christmas and New Year period, but these drivers have chosen to disobey the road rules, they have chosen to put other motorists at risk." A/Assistant Commissioner Chapman said.
"Police aren't going to stop going after these drivers, so it is up to them to change their actions or get caught. Over 1700 drivers were detected driving with the presence of drugs in their system, close to 10,000 were speeding. These aren't the numbers we want to see.
"I continue to urge all drivers and passengers that if you see dangerous driving to contact police and keep our roads safe.
Some examples of dangerous driver behaviour detected during the operation include:
- About 4pm Friday 20 December 2024, officers attached to Cessnock Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Toyota sedan travelling on Main Road, Cliftleigh, for a random breath test. The driver, a 32-year-old man and unaccompanied learner driver, returned positive roadside breath and drug tests for alcohol and cocaine. He was charged with drive with mid-range PCA and illicit drug and drive with middle range PCA. The man was issued a court attendance notice to appear before Kurri Kurri Local Court on Tuesday 28 January 2024.
- About 1am Saturday 21 December 2024, officers attached to Hawkesbury Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling Windsor Road, McGraths Hill, when they located a Mazda utility allegedly speeding. Police directed the driver to stop; however, when they allegedly failed to stop a pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit the car allegedly reached speeds of 110km/h in an 80km/h zone. The vehicle stopped on Freemans Reach Road where the driver, a 24-year-old man, was arrested and subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was taken to Windsor Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis, returning an alleged reading of 0.125. The man was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly and drive with mid-range PCA. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Windsor Local Court on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
- About 4pm Monday 23 December 2024, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling the Leumeah area, when they located a Holden utility driving dangerously. Police directed the driver to stop; however, when they allegedly failed to do so a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued through the Minto, Ingleburn and Macquarie Fields areas before the driver stopped and attempted to flee through nearby bush. He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended. He appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday 24 December 2024, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday 21 January 2025.
- About 4pm Tuesday 24 December 2024, officers attached to Yass Highway Patrol were patrolling the Hume Highway, Jugiong, when they attempted to stop a Jeep SUV allegedly speeding. When the driver allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated; however, the pursuit was terminated due to the manner of driving. About 5.40pm, officers attached to Murray River Highway Patrol again attempted to stop the Jeep SUV in Table Top, which was allegedly travelling at over 240km/h. Police deployed road spikes stopping the car on East Street, Albury. The 29-year-old driver was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive at speed, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, use motor vehicle number plate obscured/defaced, possess drug and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen. The man was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 25 December 2024.
- About 10.15pm Tuesday 24 December 2024, officers attached to Bankstown Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling Affords Point Road, Padstow Heights, where they located a motorcycle allegedly driving at 130km/h in an 80km/h zone. A short time later the rider, a 55-year-old man, stopped on Davies Road, Padstow and he was subject to a random breath test, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Revesby Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis, returning an alleged reading of 0.153. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and unlicenced for vehicle class. The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 12 February 2025.
- About 6.40am Tuesday 24 December 2024, officers attached to Forester Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling the Pacific Highway, Nabiac, when they stopped a Ivenco van. During a search of the vehicle police located and seized 1,584,000 cigarettes, 6,000 vapes and $2,870 cash. The estimated street value of the items seized is over $2,586,000. The driver, a 57-year-old man, was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, restricted substance sold by no wholesaler, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime less than $5,000 and drive while driver visiting privileges withdrawn. The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Taree Local Court on Tuesday 4 February 2025.
- About 12am Wednesday 25 December 2024, police stopped a Ford utility on The Crescent, Dee Why, after it was seen driving dangerously slow. The driver, a 37-year-old man, returned a positive roadside breath test and was taken to Dee Why Police Station where he returned a breath analysis of 0.230. He was charged with drive with high range PCA. He was issued with a court attendance notice to attend Manly Local Court on Wednesday 5 February 2025.
- About 3pm Saturday 28 December 2024, police stopped a Ford sedan on Eagleview Road, Ingleburn. During the stop, the driver, a 24-year-old man, allegedly attempted to eat the breath testing device before throwing it at an officer. He was arrested and taken to Campbeltown Police Station where he was charged with two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty, two counts of use light vehicle not comply with standard, use offensive language in/near public place/school, hinder police officer administer fluid test/take sample and refuse or fail to provide oral fluid sample. The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday 4 February 2025.
- About 4.30pm Sunday 29 December 2024, police stopped a Holden sedan travelling west bound along Maitland Road, Islington, after it was detected at 80kph in a 60kph zone. Inquiries with the driver ascertained the 59-year-old man's drivers' licence had been disqualified back in 1995 until 2069. The man was issued a court attendance notice for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 23 January 2025.
- About 6pm on Sunday 29 December 2024, police stopped a B double combination truck along the Newell Highway, Dubbo, for the purpose of an RBT. The 37-year-old male driver returned a positive reading. He was taken to Dubbo Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis allegedly returning a reading of 0.084. His licence was suspended, and the man was charged with drive with middle range PCA and is due to appear at Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday 5 February 2025.
- About 5pm Monday 30 December 2024, officers attached to Brisbane Water Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling Peats Ridge Road, Somersby, when they detected a motorcycle allegedly speeding. Police followed the motorcyclist which they allege was being ridden at 177km/h in a 110km/h zone. After a short time, the rider - an off-duty police officer attached to Northern Region - stopped in Tuggerah and police issued him a traffic infringement notice for exceed speed over 45km/h. The man's licence was also suspended. An internal review will be conducted.
- About 5.25am yesterday (Wednesday 1 January 2025), officers attached to Hawkesbury Highway Patrol stopped a Holden SUV in Berkshire Park. During the stop the driver, a 29-year-old man, allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Windsor Police Station where he returned a breath analysis of 0.207. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and had his licence suspended. The man was issued a court attendance notice to appear before Windsor Local Court on Wednesday 29 January 2025.
- About 10.33pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 January 2025), officers attached Ryde Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting stationary RBT on Epping Road, Marsfield West. During the operation a motorcyclist allegedly failed to stop when directed. Police initiated a pursuit, during which the rider was allegedly detected riding at 120km/h in a 70km/h zone. During the pursuit the motorcycle has mounted a kerb and crashed. The rider, a 17-year-old boy, was treated for minor injuries by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being arrested and taken to Gladesville Police Station. He was charged with not stop vehicle when directed to do so, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, negligent driving no death or grievous bodily harm, forge driver licence, driver or rider state false name or home address, motor bike rider not wear/secure fit approved helmet and never licenced person drive vehicle on road. The teen was granted strict conditional bail to appear before children's court on Monday 10 February 2025.
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Western Region
Restraint Infringements – 37
Mobile phone infringements – 18
Speed infringements – 1,196
Breath Tests – 38,945
PCA charges – 69
Drug-driving detections – 155
Fatal Crashes – 1
Lives Lost – 1
Reported major crashes – 66
People injured – 33
Northern Region
Restraint Infringements – 89
Mobile phone infringements – 117
Speed infringements – 2,527
Breath Tests – 66,421
PCA charges – 203
Drug-driving detections – 367
Fatal Crashes – 4
Lives Lost – 4
Reported major crashes – 226
People injured – 104
Southern Region
Restraint Infringements – 80
Mobile phone infringements – 101
Speed infringements – 2,516
Breath Tests – 77,863
PCA charges – 126
Drug-driving detections – 400
Fatal Crashes – 3
Lives Lost – 3
Reported major crashes – 122
People injured – 88
