Operation Christmas and New Year 2025, the annual statewide road traffic safety campaign, has concluded, with eight people losing their lives on NSW roads during the 17-day period.
The high-visibility operation, which ran in conjunction with the double-demerits period, began on Friday 19 December 2025 and concluded yesterday (Sunday 4 January 2026).
The operation involved Traffic and Highway Patrol Command police, as well as officers from all commands and districts across the state, and saw police target drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use, speeding and seat belt and helmet offences.
In total, police conducted 29,302 random drug tests, with 2415 drug-driving offences detected.
Police also conducted 597,703 breath tests, with 939 drink-driving offences recorded.
Across the state, police issued 40,875 Traffic Infringement Notices, with officers detecting 12,622 speed-related offences, 1200 mobile phone offences, and 669 seatbelt/helmet-related offences.
During the 17-day operation, eight people lost their lives on NSW roads.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the operation's results should concern everyone.
"We are seeing alarming rates of drug and drink driving on our roads. There is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car with alcohol or drugs in your system, the same goes for speeding, distracted driving and not wearing a seatbelt or a helmet.
"Anyone who breaks the law is not just gambling with their life, but with the lives of their passengers and others on the road.
"Police are doing their job but we need everyone else to do theirs. Drive like your life depends on it – because it does."
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said while most drivers were well behaved, police have seen a concerning rise in the number of drug detections made on NSW roads.
"Most drivers are heeding advice and not partaking in risky driving behaviour; however, more than 2400 people tested positive to driving with drugs in their system during the 17-day operation," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"Our message remains clear and simple: if you choose to consume alcohol or drugs, do not drive.
"Tragically, eight people also lost their lives on our roads during the period. That's eight families whose lives have changed forever.
"While Operation Christmas and New Year 2025 has concluded, the school holidays are ongoing and families are on the roads across the state.
"We urge everyone to drive to the conditions and take their responsibility as a motorist seriously – it could be the difference in saving someone's life."
Incidents of note:
Incident 1: About 1.45pm on Sunday 4 January 2026, officers from Richmond Police District were called to Ferngrove Drive, Ballina, following reports of a single-vehicle crash. Police were told a 61-year-old woman was driving an SUV on Tamarind Drive when she entered a roundabout and allegedly made a left turn from the right lane before she crashed into a pedestrian traffic refuge, ripping out the steel rails. The woman allegedly continued through a giveway sign and over a roundabout, causing the tyres to deflate before she drove through a wooden fence. She allegedly returned a roadside reading of 0.302 before she refused a breath analysis. She was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice at Ballina Local Court in February 2026.
Incident 2: About 1.30pm on Friday 26 December 2025, officers from Chifley Police District were conducting patrols of Mt Panorama, Bathurst, when a motorcycle was detected travelling 159km/h in a signposted 60km/zone. The driver, a 25-year-old man, was charged with drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous and class A motor vehicle speed more than 45 km/h. He was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice to appear at Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday 11 February 2026.
Incident 5: About 8.40pm on Saturday 3 January 2026, officers from Wagga Wagga Highway Patrol stopped a man driving a utility on Lake Albert Road, Kooringal, for random testing. A 25-year-old man – who holds a provisional two licence – allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine, methylamphetamine and cannabis. A secondary drug test has been sent for analysis.
Incident 4: About 4.35pm on Sunday 4 January 2026, police from The Hills Highway Patrol stopped a car at a service station on Seven Hills Road, Baulkham Hills, with checks revealing her registration was cancelled in July 2024. The 49-year-old woman allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine and methylamphetamine. She was issued with traffic infringement notices for use unregistered registrable class A motor vehicle on road, use uninsured motor vehicle on road, owner use vehicle on road with tax unpaid and licence expired within the last two years. A secondary drug test has been sent for analysis.
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 11,571
Speed infringements: 4064
Breath tests: 116,029
PCA charges: 289
Positive drug-driving tests: 729
Major crashes: 287
Fatalities: 3
Southern Region
Total infringements: 7571
Speed infringements: 3515
Breath tests: 80,112
PCA charges: 145
Positive drug-driving tests: 569
Major crashes: 170
Fatalities: Nil
Western Region
Total infringements: 3710
Speed infringements: 1281
Breath tests: 62,442
PCA charges: 123
Positive drug-driving tests: 314
Major crashes: 109
Fatalities: 3
