Police detected more than 900 drivers allegedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol during a high-visibility statewide traffic operation last week.
Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) commenced at 12.01am on Thursday (6 November 2025) and concluded at 4am yesterday (Sunday 9 November 2025), targeting people driving while affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue.
During the operation, police conducted more than 145,800 breath tests with 241 drink driving offences detected, and conducted 10,270 drug tests with 663 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 more than 7000 traffic infringement notices, including 1823 for speed-related offences, 245 for mobile phone usage, and 111 restraint-related offences.
Police attended 296 major crashes. Six people died on NSW roads – five of those in regional areas.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the results from this weekend's Operation RAID showed that people driving after consuming alcohol and or taking drugs remained a serious problem, and police would not hesitate to act when someone puts others at risk.
"Every time an officer stops a driver who has taken drugs or alcohol in breach of the law, they're preventing a tragedy. These operations aren't about statistics, they're about keeping people alive," Minister Catley said.
"Too many families have had their lives shattered because someone thought they were fine to drive when they weren't. These are preventable incidents and we need people to take that responsibility seriously.
"Police will continue to run high-visibility operations right across the state. The safest choice is the simplest one: if you're drinking, taking drugs or too tired, don't get behind the wheel."
Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, said police were out in force during Operation RAID to deter people from driving after consuming alcohol, taking drugs or when tired.
"We saw six lives lost during the operation, which is a tragedy. We had many officers patrolling the roads to reduce risk and promote road safety," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"We also detected a number of drivers travelling at very high speeds, which is also unacceptable.
"We continue to implore drivers to make the right decision and not undertake these dangerous driving behaviours. We urge people to think about other innocent road users, their families and those in your own car who could have their lives changed forever by reckless decisions.
"We will continue to run Operation RAID to reduce road trauma."
Incidents of note:
- About 10.15am on Thursday 6 November 2025, officers attached to Orange Highway Patrol were patrolling Mitchell Highway, Molong, when they stopped a ute for a random testing. The driver, a 51-year-old man, was subjected to a roadside drug test, which allegedly returned with a positive reading. Officers seized drugs including methamphetamine, heroin, cannabis leaf, a prohibited electrical device and cash along with a mobile phone device from the vehicle. The man was taken to Orange Police Station where an oral fluid sample was obtained and sent for further analysis. He was charged with supply prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug (two counts), and possess any non-prescribed electrical device. He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 4 on Friday 7 November 2025, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Orange Local Court on Thursday 13 November 2025.
- About 4.10pm on Thursday 6 November, officers from Orange Highway Patrol stopped a male driver on the Northern Distributor, Orange, for drug and alcohol testing. The 44-year-old man produced a learner's licence, with checks revealing it was disqualified. He was also unaccompanied. The man allegedly returned a positive detection to methamphetamine during an oral fluid test. He was arrested for the purpose of a secondary oral fluid test, which returned a positive result. The man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period to appear at Orange Local Court on Thursday 15 January 2026. Police are awaiting the results of the oral fluid sample analysis.
- About 10.40pm on Thursday 6 November, officers from Oxley Highway Patrol stopped a male driver on the Edith Street, West Tamworth, for drug and alcohol testing. The 35-year-old man produced his provisional P1 licence, with checks revealing it was disqualified. He allegedly returned a positive detection to methamphetamine cannabis and cocaine during an oral fluid test. He was arrested for the purpose of a secondary oral fluid test which returned a positive result. He was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 8 December 2025. Police are awaiting the results of the oral fluid sample analysis.
- About 5.50pm on Friday 7 November 2025, officers from Northern Beaches Highway Patrol stopped a female driver on Mona Vale Road, Terry Hills, for random alcohol testing. She allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test with breath analysis returning a result of 0.183. A child was also in the car at the time. The 40-year-old woman was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday 17 December 2025. Her licence was also suspended.
- About 12.30pm on Friday 7 November 2025, officers from Richmond Highway Patrol detected a motorcycle rider travelling at 137km/h in an 80km/h zone on Wyrallah Road at Tucki Tucki. The 21-year-old learner-rider was stopped and issued with an infringement notice for learner driver exceed speed limit over 45km/h and his licence was suspended for six months.
- About 9.30am on Saturday 8 November 2025, officers attached to Cumberland Highway Patrol stopped a driver of ute after he was allegedly detected travelling 86km/h in a 50km/h zone on Chisholm Road, Auburn. The driver, a 45-year-old man, was subjected to an oral fluid test which returned a positive result to cannabis. He was arrested for the purpose of providing an oral fluid sample and a secondary test, both of which he allegedly refused. The man was issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceed speed limit over 30km/h. He was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice to attend Burwood Local Court on Tuesday 16 December 2025 for refuse or fail to provide oral fluid sample and refuse or fail to submit to oral fluid test.
- About 1.20pm on Saturday 8 November 2025, officers from City South Highway Patrol detected a driver allegedly travelling at 123km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Princes Highway, Waterfall. The 39-year-old man produced a P2 provisional drivers' licence and an allegedly positive roadside breath test. He was taken to Sutherland Police Staton where a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.014. The driver also allegedly returned a positive indication to cocaine and cannabis. He was issued with Field Court Attendance Notice for novice driver drive with novice range prescribed concentration of alcohol to appear before Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday 11 December 2025. He was also issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit – over 30 km/h and his licence was suspended for three months. Police are awaiting the results of the oral fluid sample analysis.
- Shortly before 12.30am on Sunday 9 November 2025, officers attached to Hunter Valley Highway Patrol attempted to stop a motorbike rider on Wine Country Drive, North Rothbury, for allegedly speeding. A short time later, officers spoke to the rider and noticed the bike was fitted with an altered registered plate. The 37-year-old man was subject to a Firearms Prohibition Order and officers searched his backpack where they allegedly located an unloaded double barrel shotgun, more than $11,900 cash, shotgun shells and drugs including white crystal and numerous pills. Officers also allegedly located a loaded smooth bore revolver in his underwear and a 50ml container of clear liquid. The man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station before he was taken to Cessnock Hospital. Upon his release from hospital, he was charged with 14 traffic, drug, and firearms offences. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday 9 November 2025 where he was formally refused bail to appear in Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 12 November 2025.
- About 12.30am on Sunday 9 November, officers from Wollongong Highway Patrol stopped a male driver on Memorial Drive, Towradgi, due to the manner of driving. Police searched the car and allegedly found 22 grams of cannabis. The 28-year-old man allegedly returned a positive detection to cannabis during an oral fluid test. He was arrested for the purpose of a secondary oral fluid test which returned a positive result. Checks of his licence revealed it was cancelled and his registration had expired. He was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive while licence cancelled. He was issued with a cannabis caution and infringement notices for use uninsured motor vehicle, use unregistered motor vehicle and use vehicle on road – tax unpaid. About 3.30am the same morning, officers stopped the same driver on Towradgi Road, Corrimal. He was arrested and again returned a positive detection to methamphetamine and cannabis during an oral fluid test. He was taken to Wollongong Police Station for secondary testing and returned a positive result to cannabis. He was charged with drive while licence cancelled, fail or refuse to comply with prohibition or requirement, and use unregistered motor vehicle on road. He was granted bail to appear before Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 2 December 2025. Police are awaiting the results of the oral fluid sample analysis.
