Motorists heading off for a Christmas celebration or a summer escape this week are being reminded to plan their journey and drive safely this holiday period, with high traffic volumes expected across NSW.
NSW Police will enforce double demerits for speeding, motorcycle helmet, seatbelt and mobile phone offences from Friday 20 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025.
Historical data shows the busiest times on roads leaving Sydney start from lunchtime on Friday 20 December, with people taking an early mark from work and leaving Sydney to head to regional NSW.
The heaviest outbound traffic forecast is on the M1 Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway heading north, the Great Western Highway heading west and the Princes Highway heading south.
Delays are expected in the lead up to Christmas with people hitting the road to visit family, and again between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve as holidaymakers head away to ring in 2025.
Transport for NSW will be monitoring traffic at known regional pinch points on the Pacific Highway including Coffs Harbour, Tugun, and Hexham, Mt Victoria on the Great Western Highway and Nowra, Jervis Bay, Milton and Ulladulla on the Princes Highway.
A number of major regional roads projects will be shutting down during the holiday break, and many projects will still have reduced speed limits in place and motorists are reminded to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs.
If loading up the car, trailer, caravan, or boat, take the time to check everything is secure, all tyres and blinkers are in good condition, and drivers should be across the rules around how to drive safely when towing.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
"This weekend we're expecting thousands of motorists to hit the road and head to the regions to make the most of the Christmas holidays.
"We want people to have a safe and happy holiday. Tragically, as of midnight on 17 December 2024, 330 people have lost their lives on NSW roads so far this year which is one less than the same time last year. So, I'm asking everyone to please slow down and take extra care on our roads to make sure this is a merry Christmas.
"Stick to the speed limit, never drive if you're affected by drugs or alcohol, make sure you're well rested before hitting the road, always wear your seatbelt, wear a helmet if you're riding a motorcycle and don't use your phone illegally."
Transport for NSW Executive Director Operations Management Craig Moran said:
"This is always one of the busiest periods on our road network with people moving right across the state to visit family and friends for Christmas or to enjoy a summer break, and we'll have dedicated staff working around the clock to make that journey as smooth as possible.
"We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely and full of holiday spirit. The best way to do that is to plan your journey, drive to the conditions and pack some patience.
"Our holiday and journey planning website has everything you need to plan your trip, with tools to help avoid the busiest times on our roads, an interactive rest stop map to plan your breaks, and access to Live Traffic, where you can check out real time incident information."
To find the best times to travel to your destination, use the TfNSW pinch point journey planning tool at myjourneynsw.info and get the latest traffic updates by downloading the Live Traffic NSW app, visiting livetraffic.com or calling 132 701.
Check out the NSW Government's holiday and journey planning website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/plan-your-trip/holiday-driving/holiday-and-journey-planning
