Four people have lost their lives during the Anzac Day long weekend as police conclude a major traffic operation.
Police conducted a high-visibility deployment across the state during Operation Anzac Day 2026 from 12.01am Friday 24 April 2026 to 11.59pm Monday 27 April 2026.
A double demerits period targeting speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt and helmet offences was in place for the same time period.
Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with the assistance of general duties and specialist officers from all police commands and districts across the state were deployed during the operation.
Over this long weekend, four people lost their lives, which occurred in the southern, northern and western regions.
Across the state, police issued 11,098 Traffic Infringement Notices, including 3,471 for speed related offences, 438 for mobile phone usage, and 249 restraint offences.
Police conducted more than 240,600 breath tests, with 338 drink driving offences detected and conducted 9,463 drug tests, with 777 drug driving offences detected.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said four people had lost their lives on NSW roads this long weekend and there was no soft way to say that.
"Police were out in numbers and double demerits were in force, but despite the warnings we still saw people speeding, drink driving, drug driving, using phones and incorrectly wearing seatbelts," Minister Catley said.
"Decisions made behind the wheel can be the difference between getting home safely and a tragedy that can never be undone.
"Double demerits are there to stop people taking those risks, and police will keep coming down hard on anyone who puts lives in danger."
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver said the majority of people drove safely but there were still drivers who made illegal and dangerous choices on the road.
"Over the Anzac Day long weekend, our officers took decisive action against motorists who chose to ignore the road rules," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"These results show that if you put others at risk, you will be stopped, you will be fined, and you will be held accountable.
"We intercepted drivers who were speeding, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and committing other offences.
"Every offence detected is one potential crash or fatality prevented."
Incidents of note:
Shortly before 2pm on Friday 24 April 2026, officers attached to Mittagong Highway Patrol detected a driver allegedly travelling at 146km/h on the Hume Motorway, Mittagong. The driver, a 30-year-old man, was stopped and allegedly returned a positive breath test before he was arrested and taken to Mittagong Police Station. He allegedly returned a breath analysis of 0.125. Checks of his licence revealed it was allegedly expired. The man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with low range prescribed concentration of alcohol and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended. He was fined for exceeding the speed limit. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Moss Vale Local Court on Monday 26 May 2026.
About 2.30am on Saturday 25 April 2026, officers attached to St George Police Area Command were conducting stationary testing on the Princes Highway, Blakehurst, when they stopped a ute. The driver – an 18-year-old man – was subjected to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to St George Police Station where a breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.055. The 18-year-old was issued an infringement notice for drive with low range prescribed concentration alcohol and his licence was suspended. About 4.50am the same day, officers attached to St George Police Area Command located the same vehicle on the same road in Blakehurst. Police stopped the vehicle at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Endeavour Street, Sylvania, where the same driver was arrested. He was subjected to a second roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. The man was taken to the same police station where a second breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.023. He was charged with drive motor vehicle while licence suspended and special category driver drive with special range prescribed concentration of alcohol. He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 7 on Saturday 25 April 2026.
About 6.20pm on Friday 24 April 2026, officers attached to Central North Police District were called to Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge, following reports a child allegedly sat at the controls of excavator that was loaded on a large trailer which was being towed by a two-tonne tipper truck. The driver stopped to refuel the truck before he left and allegedly travelled onto the main street while the child remained in the excavator. A short time later, police attended a house on Kopi Street, Lightning Ridge, and spoke with a man who allegedly refused to provide details of the driver. A 45-year-old man was arrested and was taken to Lightning Ridge Police Station. He was charged with drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous; responsible person/custodian not disclose driver's details; ride in/on part of vehicle for goods wrong size no seatbelt; use unregistered registrable Class B motor vehicle on road; use uninsured motor vehicle on road; owner drive unregistered vehicle on road/road related area and drive with passenger in/on part of vehicle no seatbelt. The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Lightning Ridge Local Court on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
Just after 10.30pm on Saturday 25 April 2026, officers attached to Mittagong Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were patrolling on Hume Motorway, Mittagong, when they observed a hatchback allegedly being driven dangerously. When it allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued on the Hume Motorway, near Menangle, where road spikes were successfully deployed. A short time later, the vehicle came to stop Camden Valley Way, Edmondson Park, after it had crashed into a bollard. The 29-year-old male driver was arrested, and police located and seized a bag allegedly containing about 6.1kg of cannabis. He was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 20km/h, Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h, drive while licence application refused, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, unlawfully possess thing resembles Australian driver licence and supply prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity. He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 6 on Sunday 26 April 2026.
About 2.10pm on Saturday 25 April 2026, officers attached to Newcastle City Highway Patrol Command stopped a grey Ute for a random testing. The driver – a 28-year-old man – was subjected to a roadside drug test, which allegedly returned a positive result. Police also allegedly located and seized knuckle dusters from the driver and allegedly an amount of cocaine and cannabis from the vehicle. He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess prohibited drug (two counts), possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance and supply prohibited drug less than or equal to small quantity. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 4 June 2026. Police are awaiting the results of a secondary drug analysis.
About 6.20am on Monday 27 April 2026, officers attached to North Shore Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on Penshurst Street, Chatswood, when they allegedly detected a driver travelling at 112km/h in a 60km/h zone. The driver – a 25-year-old woman who is a NSW Police probationary constable – was stopped. Checks revealed the woman's licence had allegedly expired. She was issued with infringement notices for exceed speed limit – over 45km/h and licence expired.
About 2.20pm on Monday 27 April 2026, officers attached to Chifley Highway Patrol were patrolling Millthorpe Road, Millthorpe, when they passed a car which allegedly had an expired registration. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, however, when the driver failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. Police will allege the driver travelled at 160km/h on a dirt surface in a 60km/h zone and allegedly travelled through a giveaway sign without slowing down. The pursuit was terminated. A short time later, officers observed the vehicle on Lucknow Street, Spring Hill, where the driver allegedly fled from the car over backyard fences. A 31-year-old man was arrested a short time later and was taken to Orange Police Station, where he allegedly returned a positive oral fluid test for methylampthetamine. Checks of the man's licence revealed it was allegedly disqualified. The man was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive while licence application refused, use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road, use uninsured motor vehicle on road, Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h and enter inclosed lands without lawful excuse. He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 4 on Tuesday 28 April 2026. Police are awaiting the results of a secondary drug analysis.
STATISTICS
Statewide
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 11,098
Speed infringements: 3,471
Breath tests: 240,684
PCA charges: 338
Drug test: 9,463
Positive drug-driving tests: 777
Mobile phone: 438
Restraint: 249
Major crashes: 331
Fatalities: 4
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 2,630
Speed infringements: 892
Breath tests: 33,807
PCA charges: 97
Drug test: 1,696
Positive drug-driving tests: 209
Mobile phone: 49
Restraint: 25
Major crashes: 75
Fatalities: 1
Southern Region
Total infringements: 2,070
Speed infringements: 925
Breath tests: 39,084
PCA charges: 65
Drug test: 1,440
Positive drug-driving tests: 168
Mobile phone: 27
Restraint: 38
Major crashes: 33
Fatalities: 2
Western Region
Total infringements: 878
Speed infringements: 377
Breath tests: 19,592
PCA charges: 26
Drug test: 1,069
Positive drug-driving tests: 102
Mobile phone: 7
Restraint: 13
Major crashes: 20
Fatalities: 1
