Tasmanian motorists continue to put themselves and other road users at risk by driving too fast, Tasmania Police's annual road safety initiative shows.
As Operation Safe Arrival draws to a close after a 12-day campaign**, Tasmania Police intercepted more than 1130 drivers for exceeding the speed limit - 360 more than the previous year, with one day (Friday, 2 January) remaining for the operation.
Speeding offences detected across the state, excluding speed cameras, were 1137, with 389 in the Western district, 344 in the Northern district and 404 in the Southern district.
Among the worst offenders:
• A 35-year-old man detected travelling 109km/h in a 50km/h zone in the township of Tullah.
• A first year P-Plate driver, aged 19, detected travelling at 150km/h on the Ridgley Highway – 50km/h over the posted limit. The driver also failed to display P Plates.
• A 17-year-old P1 driver detected travelling 151km/h in the 100km/h zone of the Southern Outlet from Kingston to Hobart.
Southern Road Policing Services Acting Inspector Penny Reardon said the results were disappointing, and she urged road users to slow down and drive to the conditions.
"Excess speed is one of the fatal five contributors to road trauma. The faster you drive, the greater the risk there is to you, your passengers and other road users," Acting Inspector Reardon said. "It's that simple."
"It's definitely frustrating for police that despite the strong messaging on the risks associated with excessive speed, and also our high visibility policing campaign focusing on road safety, some drivers out there continue to disobey the rules and put people's lives in danger."
Tasmania's annual road toll for 2025 was 44 fatalities. This is 16 more than in 2024, and the highest total since 50 fatalities were recorded in 2022.
In 2025, there were 26 fatalities involving a vehicle crash, 12 involving a motorcycle, five pedestrians and one e-bike rider.
There were 248 serious crashes in 2025 compared with 258 in 2024. (277 persons injured compared with 307 injuries in 2024).
Acting Inspector Reardon implored motorists to take extra care this weekend.
"It's going to be very busy on the roads over the next few days as people continue to move about in the holiday period and we are just urging everyone on the roads to exercise caution, to take their time, and to avoid distractions while driving," she said.
"We want everyone to get to their destination safely, and to be spending time with their friends and their families free from the tragic circumstances of a crash."
Operation Safe Arrival is Tasmania Police's key road safety initiative across the Christmas and New Year period, and runs from Monday, 22 December, 2025 to Friday, 2 January, 2026. The full reporting period closes at midnight tonight.
** Please note. Operation Safe Arrival data referenced here is to 8am Friday, 2 January. Full statistics from the Operation Safe Arrival period will be made available once compiled.
