Dangerous driving data over long weekend

Police say they saw a concerning number of unsafe and reckless driving incidents during Operation Australia Day 2025.

They are urging the community to be safer and more considerate on the road after a significant number of dangerous driving incidents were detected.

Operation Australia Day 2025 was conducted between Friday, January 24 and Monday, January 27 with double demerit points in effect and police targeting drivers for speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone usage and seatbelt offences.

Police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and officers from Police Area Commands and Police Districts, were out in force patrolling roads across the state, focusing on dangerous and risky driving behaviour – with the aim of preventing injury and death.

In the police Northern Region there were 1,125 speed infringements, 21,921 breath tests, 133 positive drug-driving tests, 70 PCA charges, 61 major crashes, and thankfully no fatalities.

Just before 6.30pm on Saturday, January 25 officers from Brisbane Water Highway Patrol stopped a hatchback on Baker St, Gosford for random testing.

The driver, a 45-year-old man, was allegedly unable to produce a licence and recorded a positive result to methamphetamine during a roadside drug test.

The man was arrested and issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for the charge of driver never licensed.

He is due to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, February 25.

Statewide, during Operation Australia Day, police issued 3,742 speed infringements, conducted 114,750 breath tests with 259 people charged with drink-driving, 598 positive roadside drug detections, and attended 312 major crashes, resulting in 97 people injured.

Two people died on NSW roads, compared to four for the same period the previous year.

There were 355 mobile phone infringements, 186 restraint infringement and 6,180 other infringements issued to drivers.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said police would continue to have a zero-tolerance approach to anyone doing the wrong thing on the road.

“Drivers can always expect a highly visible police presence, targeting speeding, drink, drug, distracted and dangerous driving and fatigue,” she said.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman, said police were concerned with the number of drivers putting other road users, who were doing the right thing, at risk because of their dangerous driving.

“We will continue to be highly visibility across the state targeting and taking action against those who think they can ignore the road rules and can break the law,” she said.