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.”
INCIENTS OF NOTE
Metropolitan Region
About 9.20am on Friday (23 January 2026), officers attached to Camden Highway Patrol stopped a Mazda 3 on Bringelly Road, Leppington. When police spoke to the driver – a 29-year-old Minto man – he allegedly failed to supply a driver’s licence and told police he was 30-year-old Picton resident. Following initial inquiries, police confirmed the man’s identity and also that his licence was suspended. He also allegedly returned a positive random drug test result for cocaine. The man was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, driver/rider state false name/home address, and interlock licence holder -not have approved device installed. He will appear before Picton Local Court on Thursday 26 February 2026.
About 10.20pm on Friday (23 January 2026), officers attached to North Shore Highway Patrol were called to the east bound lane of the M2 Motorway, Lane Cove, following reports of a crash. Police arrived to find a Volkswagen hatchback had collided with the rear of a Tesla. The driver of the Volkswagen – a 28-year-old woman – was uninjured and allegedly returned a positive breath test at the scene. She was arrested and taken to North Sydney Police Station where she returned a breath analysis reading of 0.162. The woman was charged with drive with high range PCA and had her licence suspended. She will appear before Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 12 March 2026.
About 6am on Friday (23 January 2026), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a Mazda SUV on the M4 Motorway, Eastern Creek, after it was seen allegedly driving dangerously. The driver – a 41-year-old Guildford man – was subjected to a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where a further breath analysis returned a reading of 0.229. The man was charged with drive with high range PCA and never licenced person drive on road. He will appear before Mt Druitt Local Court on Monday 16 February 2026.
About 2.10am on Saturday (24 January 2026), officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Highway Patrol detected a Subaru S5 speeding on the Western Distributor, Pyrmont. The P2 driver – a 22-year-old man – was allegedly detected driving at 100km/h in a 60km/h speed zone. He was subjected to a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result before being arrested and taken to mobile RBT bus in Petersham, where he returned a breath analysis of 0.124. The 22-year-old was also subjected to a random drug test which returned a positive reading for methylamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis. He was charged with drive with mid-range PCA and illicit drug. The man will appear before Newtown Local Court on Tuesday 17 March 2026.
Shortly after 12am on Monday (26 January 2026), officers attached to Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the M5 Motorway, Milperra, when they detected a Nissan allegedly travelling at 212km/h in a 100km/h zone. A short distance behind, another driver in a Mitsubishi Lancer was detected allegedly travelling at 200km/h. Both drivers stopped on Heathcote Road, Moorebank. A 19-year-old man was charged with Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45 km/h; drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous; and organise, promote etc race between vehicles. A second 19-year-old man was charged with P2 driver exceed speed more than 45 km/h, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous; organise, promote etc race between vehicles and not comply P1/P2 high performance vehicle restriction. They were both issued with Court Attendance Notices to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 4 March 2026.
Northern Region
About 12.15am on Saturday (24 January 2026), officers attached to Brisbane Water Highway Patrol stopped a Mazda hatchback for stationary testing on Hely Street, Gosford. The driver – a 43-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Gosford Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a reading of 0.179. The man was charged with drive with high range PCA and was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 24 February 2026.
About 7.35pm on Friday (23 January 2026), officers attached to Richmond Highway Patrol stopped a Toyota SUV travelling on Molesworth Street, Lismore, for stationary testing. The driver – a 49-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Lismore Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a reading of 0.204. The man was charged with drive with high range PCA and issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Lismore Local Court on Monday 23 February 2026.
About 5.30pm on Saturday (24 January 2026), officers attached to Brisbane Water Highway Patrol stopped a Suzuki hatchback on Racecourse Drive, West Gosford, for stationary testing. The driver – a 50-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Gosford Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a reading of 0.164. The man was charged with drive with high range PCA and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 17 February 2026.
About 12.35am on Sunday (25 January 2026), officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Highway Patrol stopped a Toyota utility on Wilfred Barrett Drive, Majenta, for stationary testing. The driver – a 23-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to The Entrance Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a reading of 0.176 and cocaine. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and drive with high range PCA and illicit drug. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Wyong Local Court on Monday 16 March 2026.
Southern Region
At 9.12pm on Saturday (24 January 2026), officers attached to Wollongong Highway Patrol stopped a Mazda hatchback travelling on Flinders Street, North Wollongong, for stationary testing. The driver – a 42-year-old woman – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station for further testing which allegedly returned a result on 0.210 and was charged with drive with high range PCA to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 3 March 2026.
About 12am on Sunday (25 January 2026), officers attached to Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol observed a Subaru station wagon travelling on Princes Highway, Figtree. Following inquiries, the vehicle was found to have been reported stolen. When the Subaru failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated on Memorial Drive. The driver – an 18-year-old man – allegedly travelled 90km/h over the signed posted 90km/h speed limit towards Bulli. The driver continued to Kirrawee, where he crashed into a wall and the vehicle caught fire. The driver was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries before being arrested and taken to St George Hospital. Following inquiries, the man was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, driver use mobile phone when not permitted, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. He was bail refused to appear at Bail Division – Court 7 on Monday 26 January 2026.
About 1.50am on Sunday (25 January 2026), officers attached to Yass Highway Patrol stopped a Mitsubishi utility travelling on Barton Highway, Murrumbateman, for stationary testing. The driver – a 41-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. The man was arrested and taken to Yass Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a result of 0.229. The man was charged drive with high range PCA and was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Yass Local Court on Thursday 26 February 2026.
Western Region
About 9.30am on Friday (23 January 2026), officers attached to Oxley Highway Patrol responded to reports of a Nissan utility allegedly being driven in a dangerous manner on the Oxley Highway. Upon arrival, police located the vehicle, which allegedly had its number plates covered with a rubbish bag. The vehicle was stopped and the driver – a 35-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police allegedly located and seized 2.19 grams of cocaine. The man was taken to Tamworth Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a positive breath analysis reading of 0.113. He was charged with drive with mid-range PCA and illicit drug, possess prohibited drug, and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous. The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 9 March 2026.
Shortly before 10pm on Monday (26 January 2026), emergency services were called to New England Gully Road, near New England Highway, following reports of a truck fire. Officers attached to Oxley Highway Patrol subjected the driver to a roadside breath test of a B-double combination truck, which returned a positive result. The 45-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station for a secondary testing which returned a result of 0.236, which is almost 12 times the legal alcohol limit for truck drivers. His licence was suspended, and he was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range PCA to attend Tamworth Local Court on Monday 9 March 2026.
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 3,175
Speed infringements: 1,055
Breath tests: 41,118
PCA charges: 90
Positive drug-driving tests: 208
Major crashes: 92
Fatalities: 2
Southern Region
Total infringements: 2,156
Speed infringements: 1,054
Breath tests: 24,990
PCA charges: 50
Positive drug-driving tests: 185
Major crashes: 44
Fatalities: 1
Western Region
Total infringements: 980
Speed infringements: 351
Breath tests: 18,715
PCA charges: 41
Positive drug-driving tests: 99
Major crashes: 24
Fatalities: 3
Media Release: NSW Police
