Police are urging motorists to take extra care on NSW roads as families make their way home at the end of school holidays.
Since school holidays started on Friday 3 April 2026, 11 people have died on NSW roads taking the total number of people who have died to 103 this year. This equates to almost one person losing their life on NSW roads each day – compared to 97 deaths at the same time last year.
Additionally, during the past two weeks, there have been 1217 major traffic crashes, resulting in 338 people being injured.
Police have also detected 27,437 traffic offences since the start of the school holidays, including 8627 speeding offences, 5363 licence offences, 983 mobile phone offences and 71 restraint offences.
Officers across the State also conducted 337,666 roadside breath tests, resulting in 546 PCA offences and 1397 positive roadside drug indications.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said no short cut is worth risking your life over.
"Police will be out in numbers right across NSW this weekend, enforcing the law and targeting the dangerous behaviour that puts lives at risk," Minister Catley said.
"The message is simple: drive safely or expect to be caught.
"I implore everyone to make smart choices not only this weekend, but every day. Slow down, drive to the conditions, wear a seatbelt, don't touch your phone and don't drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Trent King, said police are urging drivers to slow down to ensure everyone across the state makes it home.
"So far this year, 103 people have lost their lives on NSW roads – that's families, loved ones and communities that will never be the same again," Acting Assistant Commissioner King said.
"Every fatality on our roads is avoidable, and every driver has a role to play in reducing the number of lives lost.
"Every time a driver gets behind the wheel, we want them to stop and think about their responsibility as a driver and how their actions can impact others.
"Don't be the reason a family loses a loved one."
Drivers are also reminded that school zones will be back in force on Monday (20 April 2026) with drivers urged to slow down around schools.
Incidents of note:
Incident 1: About 10.25pm, on Wednesday 15 April 2026, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers detected a motorbike rider travelling at more than 280 km/h, in a signposted 110kkm/h zone. Police stopped the rider a short time later. The 21-year-old man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45 km/h and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous. He is due to face Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday 12 May 2026. His licence was also suspended. Police will allege in court the rider was travelling at 303km/h.
Incident 2: On Thursday 16 April 2026, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers charged a 28-year-old woman following an investigation into two incidents in which she allegedly held an unrestrained one-year-old child in her lap inside a vehicle. The first incident, in which the woman was a passenger, occurred on Sunday 1 March 2026 on the Princes Highway, Tempe, while the second incident, in which she was driving the vehicle occurred on the M4 Motorway at Greystanes on Thursday 5 March 2026. The woman was charged with drive motor vehicle with person or animal in lap, drive with 1 passenger seatbelt/restraint not properly fastened, passenger 16 yrs or older not wear seatbelt properly and driver not wear seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened. She is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 18 June 2026.
Incident 3: About 7.35pm on Thursday 16 April 2026, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers observed an allegedly stolen vehicle on Georges River Road, Croydon Park. Police attempted to stop the vehicle and when it did not stop, a pursuit initiated. The vehicle travelled through Croydon Park, where the driver allegedly travelled at speeds between 70km/h and 90km/h in a 50km/h zones. The pursuit ended on Wetherill Street, Croydon, where police arrested the driver - a 36-year-old man. He was taken to Burwood Police Station, where he was subject to a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.063. He was charged with drive with low range PCA, police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, licence expired more than 2 years ago, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (motor vehicle) and drive conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court today (Friday 17 April 2026).
