The Easter long weekend traffic operation has now concluded with four lives lost on NSW roads.
NSW Police had a high-visibility presence across the state during Operation Easter 2026 from 12.01am Thursday 2 April 2026 to 11.59pm Monday 6 April 2026.
The police operation involved officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with the assistance of general duties and specialist police from all commands and districts across the state.
A double demerit period targeting speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt and helmet offences was also in place for the same time period.
Over this long weekend four people lost their lives, which occurred in the northern and southern regions.
Across the state, police issued 15,711 Traffic Infringement Notices, including 4,800 for speed related offences, 558 for mobile phone usage, and 326 restraint offences.
Police conducted more than 317,891 breath tests, with 319 drink driving offences and conducted 11,646 drug tests with 935 drug driving offences detected, with 333 major crashes reported.
The Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the long weekend road toll was a reminder of the consequences of unsafe driving.
"The loss of four lives on our roads is devastating and our thoughts are with their families, friends and the first responders who attended these tragic incidents," Minister Catley said.
"Police saturated our roads over the long weekend, but enforcement alone cannot prevent every tragedy. Every driver has a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and every other road user to make safe decisions behind the wheel.
"One poor choice can cost lives and leave a lasting impact on families and communities. With the Anzac Day long weekend just around the corner, we're urging drivers to heed these warnings - slow down, stay focused and think carefully about the responsibility you have when you get behind the wheel of a car."
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver said any life lost on the roads was one too many.
"Four people lost their lives over the long weekend. That meant police officers delivered heartbreaking messages to loved ones and four families experienced unbearable grief," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"Frustratingly and disappointingly, drivers continued to make dangerous and reckless decisions behind the wheel and did not appreciate the risk to themselves and other road users.
"NSW Police will be out in force across the school holidays and Anzac Day long weekend.
"Police continue to urge drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, manage their fatigue, and not drink or take drugs and drive."
NSW Police will conduct another traffic operation across the Anzac Day long weekend from Friday 24 April 2026 to Monday 27 April 2026, where a double demerit period will also be in effect.
Incidents of note:
About 5.20pm on Friday (3 April 2026), Traffic and Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop a driver on Fairfield Road, Yennora, when the vehicle was allegedly travelling at excessive speed. When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, police commenced a pursuit which was terminated due to safety concerns. A short time later, the vehicle was located on Gerald Street, Greystanes. When the driver – a 42-year-old man – allegedly resisted arrest, a Taser was deployed before he was taken into custody. Four police and the man were assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries. The man allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test for methylamphetamine and was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit, drive with expired licence, resist police, and breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 6 on Saturday 4 April 2026. A secondary drug test has been sent for analysis.
About 11.30pm on Friday (3 April 2026), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were called to a home on Rodway Parade, Kotara, and found a ute had hit the front of a home causing serious structural damage. No injuries were reported and the residents were evacuated. A 23-year-old man was breath tested at the scene, allegedly returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis of 0.155. The man was charged with drive with high-range PCA. He was issued a court attendance notice to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 30 April 2026.
About 10pm on Saturday (4 April 2026), police detected a white Ferrari California allegedly being driven at 128km/h in a signposted 50km/h zone on Chisholm Road, Auburn. The 26-year-old man was
issued with a penalty notice for $3054, his driver's licence was suspended for six months, and the
vehicle's number plates were confiscated for three months.
About 12.50pm on Saturday (4 April 2026), officers attached to Nowra Highway Patrol stopped a 48-year-old man on Kalandar Street, Nowra, due to concerns about his manner of driving. The man allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test and a licence check revealed the vehicle's registration was expired. He was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station where a breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.175. He was charged with high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol. The man's licence was suspended and he was released about 2pm. About 30 minutes later, the same man was seen driving the same unregistered vehicle on the same street. He was stopped by police on Wallace Street and again returned a positive roadside breath test. The man was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station where he returned an alleged breath analysis of 0.150. The Nowra man was charged with high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol (second offence), and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended (second offence), and use uninsured motor vehicle on road. His car keys were seized and he was given conditional bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on Monday 11 May 2026.
Shortly before 6pm on Sunday (5 April 2026), police allege a 17-year-old male provisional licence holder was detected travelling at 191km/h in a 70km/h zone southbound along the Old Pacific Highway, Somersby. He was issued an infringement notice for P1 driver exceed speed limit over 45km/h which carries a monetary value of $3054 and 12 demerit points. The teenager's licence was also suspended for six months.
About 8.50pm on Sunday (5 April 2026), police responded to reports of a man and woman allegedly siphoning diesel fuel from parked and unattended excavators at a construction site on Imperial Avenue, Black Hill. Upon police arrival, the pair fled the scene in a utility – towing a fuel trailer - and officers from Newcastle City Highway Patrol initiated a pursuit. It will be alleged the utility drove through bushland and a locked gate for several kilometres before crashing into a concrete bollard where the pair ran from the scene. Police arrested a 31-year-old woman a short time later and a 30-year-old man was arrested when a police dog detected him hiding in bushland. It will be alleged he was found in possession of methylamphetamine. The man was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory testing. He was then conveyed to Maitland Police Station. Inquiries established the utility had been stolen from Rutherford the previous day. The man was charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, larceny, police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, drive vehicle under influence of drugs and two counts of larceny. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division – Court 2 on (Monday 6 April 2026), where he was granted conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 22 April 2026. His licence has also been suspended.
About 8am on Monday (6 April 2026), officers attached to Orange Highway Patrol detected a utility driver allegedly travelling 123km/h in a 100km/h on the Mitchell Highway, south of Molong. The driver, a 30-year-old man, was stopped and said he was disqualified. He allegedly returned a positive roadside oral fluid test for cocaine and was arrested. He was taken Orange Police Station where he allegedly returned a secondary oral fluid test for cocaine. He was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition, an infringement notice for speeding and an unsecured load. The man has been charged with breach of bail and drive whilst disqualified. The secondary drug test has been sent for analysis.
About 3.50pm on Monday (6 April 2026), police from Oxley Highway Patrol stopped the driver of a rigid truck on Blairmore Road, Boggabri, due to the registration allegedly being expired on Monday 30 March 2026. The driver, a 29-year-old man, allegedly returned a positive breath test. He was taken to a nearby police station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis of 0.155. The man was issued with a field court attendance notice for high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol and is due to attend Narrabri Local Court on 28 April 2026. His licence was suspended.
STATISTICS
Statewide
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 15,711
Speed infringements: 4,800
Breath tests: 317,891
PCA charges: 319
Drug test: 11,646
Positive drug-driving tests: 935
Mobile phone: 558
Major crashes: 333
Fatalities: 4
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 4,269
Speed infringements: 1,527
Breath tests: 48,086
PCA charges: 85
Drug test: 283
Positive drug-driving tests: 259
Mobile phone: 68
Major crashes: 74
Fatalities: 2
Southern Region
Total infringements: 2,625
Speed infringements: 1,101
Breath tests: 49,873
PCA charges: 48
Drug test: 284
Positive drug-driving tests: 166
Mobile phone: 41
Major crashes: 43
Fatalities: 2
Western Region
Total infringements: 1,507
Speed infringements: 609
Breath tests: 30,085
PCA charges: 36
Drug test:
Positive drug-driving tests: 137
Mobile phone: 17
Major crashes: 30
Fatalities: Nil
