Motorists affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue were targeted by police across NSW roads during Operation RAID.
Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) 2025 commenced at 12.01am on Thursday (21 August 2025) and concluded at 11.59pm on Saturday (23 August 2025).
During the three-day operation, police conducted more than 87,000 breath tests with 186 drink driving offences detected, and conducted 9,166 drug tests with 660 people returning positive samples.
While the operation focused on detecting drivers operating a vehicle impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue, the high-visibility operation saw police across the state issue 5577 traffic infringement notices, including 1,342 for speed related offences, 217 for mobile phone usage, and 71 seatbelt/helmet related offences.
Police attended 261 major crashes with two people having died on NSW roads – one of those in regional areas.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said that police will continue to target dangerous drivers but real change starts with the choices people make before they even turn the key.
"These numbers are a sobering reminder that driving is a responsibility not a right.
"People don't get into a car expecting their lives to change forever but it happens every day. A split second of carelessness or recklessness can mean someone never makes it home.
"Police don't knock on a door to tell a family their loved one is gone because of bad luck. It's the devastating result of a decision that that someone has to live with – or not live through – for the rest of their life.
"As the roads get busier heading into the warmer months, we're urging every driver to make safe choices."
Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, said Operation RAID saw police vehicles out across the state on the streets targeting impaired drivers.
"The results of the operation speak for themselves. It is a reminder that anyone who presents a danger on our roads will become a focus. People can be stopped for random breath or drug testing, and this can occur on any road at any time," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"If you are contemplating this type of dangerous behaviour, have a good think about your actions. Think about other innocent road users, those in your vehicle and the families that will be impacted by your actions or inactions, including your own.
"Our commitment to reducing road trauma doesn't stop when Operation RAID concludes. Police will continue to maintain a strong presence on the roads."
Incidents of note:
About 4.15pm on Thursday (21 August 2025, officers from Nambucca Heads Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting stationary testing on the Pacific Hwy at Eungai Creek, when they stopped a Mazda utility. The driver, a 33-year-old man, was subject to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result and a roadside oral drug test, returning a positive indication for cocaine. The man was arrested, and a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.176. The South West Rocks man was issued a court attendance notice for drive with high range PCA and illicit drug and drive with high range PCA. He is due to appear at Macksville Local Court on Thursday 18 September 2025. His licence was also suspended confiscated.
Just after 5.30pm on Thursday (21 August 2025), officers from Eastern Suburbs Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped an Audi Q5 on Avoca Street, Randwick after the driver had allegedly been involved in an earlier road rage incident in Darlinghurst. The driver, a 55-year-old man was subject to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result and checks revealed his licence was suspended. He was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where a breath analysis returned and alleged reading of 0.225. The Kingsford man was charged with drive with high range PCA, drive whilst suspended and behave in an offensive manner. He will appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 23 November 2025. His licence was also confiscated.
About 8.30pm on Thursday (21 August 2025), officers from Hawkesbury Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting stationary testing on Macquarie Street, Windsor, when they stopped an Isuzu D-max. The driver, a 29-year-old man was subject to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken Windsor Police Station, where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.141. He was subject to an oral drug test which returned a positive indication for cannabis, cocaine and methylamphetamine. After being unable to supply a sample for a secondary oral test, the South Windsor man was taken to Hawkesbury Hospital for blood samples. He has since been issued a court attendance notice for drive with mid-range PCA and illicit drug and drive with middle range PCA. He is due to appear at Windsor Local Court on Wednesday 12 November 2025.
About 9am on Friday (22 August 2025), officers attached to Riverina Police District attended Middleton Drive, Gundagai after reports a car had crashed into a guard rail. Police spoke to the driver – a 20-year-old woman – who was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Gundagai Police Station for the purpose of a secondary breath test, which allegedly returned a reading of 0.201. The woman's provisional P2 licence was suspended, and she was issued a Field Court Attendance to appear before Gundagai Local Court on 17 October 2025.
About 10am on Friday (22 August 2025), members of the public noticed a Suzuki Vitara being driven erratically, drifting between lanes, southbound on the M5 motorway between Botany and Milperra. Motorists used their vehicles to box in the Suzuki before forcing it to come to a stop in the breakdown lane near Henry Lawson Drive. Police were notified and officers from Georges River Traffic and Highway Patrol attended immediately. The driver and sole occupant, a 40-year-old woman, was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Revesby Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.323. The Chipping Norton woman was issued a court attendance notice for drive with high range PCA. She is due to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 17 September 2025.
About 4pm on Friday (22 August 2025), officers attached Manning/Great Lakes Highway Patrol detected a vehicle allegedly driving over the speed limit on the Pacific Highway, Nabiac. The driver – a 47-year-old man – was subjected to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result to cannabis. The man was arrested and taken to Forster Police station where he was subjected to a secondary oral fluid test which was sent for further analysis. A subsequent search of the vehicle located 1kg of methamphetamine and almost $26,000 in cash. He was charged with supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime less than$100,000. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 23 August 2025
About 5pm on Friday (22 August 2025), officers attached to Broken Hill Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Bromide Street, Broken Hill for the purpose of a random breath test. The driver – a 64-year-old woman – returned a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Broken Hill Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.224. She was charged with drive with high range PCA, and drive motor vehicle not carry licence. She was granted bail to appear before Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
About 1.15am on Saturday (23 August 2025), officers attached to Barrier Police District were patrolling the Barrier Highway, Wilcannia when they observed a man asleep in the front driver's seat of a vehicle. The sole occupant – a 48-year-old man – refused a breath test and was arrested and taken to Wilcannia Police Station. He was charged with refuse or fail to submit breath test, driver with interlock device not functioning / circumvented and unregistered / uninsured and his P1 provisional licence was suspended. He will appear before Wilcannia Local Court on Wednesday 17 September 2025.
About 9:40am on Saturday (23 August 2025), officers attached to Batemans Bay Highway Patrol were conducting stationary random breath testing on Tallgums Way, Surf Beach. Police stopped the driver of a Holden Rodeo – a 57-year-old man – who returned a positive reading. The man's 13-year-old daughter was also in the vehicle. He was arrested and taken to Bateman's Bay Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.140. He was charged with drive with middle range PCA -second offence. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 22 September 2025.
About 5:40pm on Saturday (23 August 2025), officers attached to Mt Druitt Highway Patrol were conducting roadside testing on Carlisle Avenue, Mt Druitt. Police stopped the driver of a vehicle who was subject to roadside alcohol and drug testing. The driver – a 42-year-old man – returning a positive result to methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located and seized more than 37 grams of methamphetamine, tablets and other medications the driver did not have a prescription for. He was arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where a secondary oral fluid test will be sent for further analysis. He was charged with supply prohibited drug more than indictable and commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug, possession of equipment for administering prohibited drugs, possess / attempt to, prescribed restricted substance and custody of a knife in public place. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court yesterday (Sunday 24 August 2025).
