More than 600 drivers have been detected allegedly driving with drugs in their systems during a statewide police traffic operation last week.
Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) commenced at 12am on Thursday (12 February November 2025) and concluded at 4am Sunday (15 February 2025), targeting people driving while affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue.
During the operation, police conducted 9,126 drug tests with 604 people returning positive samples and conducted more than 121,000 breath tests with 167 drink driving offences detected.
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 6,500 traffic infringement notices, including 1,695 for speed-related offences, 267 for mobile phone use, and 77 restraint-related offences.
Three people lost their lives on NSW roads.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the focus on targeting people driving while affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue doesn't end with the conclusion of this operation.
"While Operation RAID has wrapped up, police continue to have a highly visible presence on our roads.
"Too many lives have been shattered because someone thought they were fine to drive when they weren't.
"Too much of what happens on our roads is preventable. Police are out there every day, but they can't be everywhere - we need drivers to make better, safer choices - for themselves, their passengers and everyone else."
Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, said disappointingly, drivers continued to get behind the wheel after consuming drugs and too much alcohol.
"People effected by drugs, alcohol and fatigue are some of the most dangerous behaviours we see on our roads because all of them slows reactions, impair judgement and puts every road user at risk," Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"Drug use by those driving vehicles is particularly concerning as data indicates that 24 per cent of fatalities on NSW roads involve the presence of illicit substances".
"Last year, there were over 28,000 positive roadside drug indications with police conducting over 215,000 random drug tests.
"Drivers need to understand that when they consume any illicit drug, the chances of being involved in a fatal crash increase.
"Unfortunately, police consistently see a high number of roadside drug test detections, often combined with alcohol or high speeds, during each traffic operation, which is why officers will continue to run enforcement activity to deter dangerous driving behaviour."
Incidents of note:
- About 1.15am on Friday 13 February 2026, police attached to Macarthur Highway Patrol were conducting stationary roadside breath testing on The Northern Road, Narellan when they signalled for a driver of a Nissan Navara to enter the testing site. When the driver allegedly failed to enter the site and failed to stop, police initiated a pursuit. The 28-year-old man stopped a short time later after allegedly reaching speeds of more than 165km/h. The man was arrested and allegedly returned a positive reading to alcohol and illicit drugs. He was taken to Narellan Police Station where secondary testing allegedly returned a reading of 0.189 and positive to cocaine. He was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerous, class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h and drive with high range prescribed concentration alcohol. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Picton Local Court on Thursday 19 February 2026. Police are awaiting the results of the oral fluid sample analysis.
- About 8.50am on Thursday 12 February 2026, police attached to Narrabri Highway Patrol responded to a driving complaint of a Mitsubishi utility travelling on the Kamilaroi Highway between Burren Junction towards Wee Waa. Police observed the driver allegedly swerve between lanes before the 36-year-old man was stopped. He returned a positive reading to alcohol and illicit drugs before he was taken to Wee Waa Police Station. Secondary testing allegedly returned a reading of 0.178 and positive to cocaine and cannabis. He was charged with drive while high range and illicit drug. The man will appear at Wee Waa Local Court on Thursday 30 April 2026. Police are awaiting the results of the oral fluid sample analysis.
- About 10.20am on Thursday 12 February 2026, police attached to Tamworth Highway Patrol observed the driver of a Toyota sedan allegedly crossing the centre unbroken line. Police stopped a 43-year-old man, who had an adult passenger and child in the car, before he allegedly returned a positive reading to alcohol. The man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station where he allegedly returned a secondary reading of 0.258. The man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range prescribed concentration alcohol to appear before Tamworth Local Court on Monday 13 April 2026.
- About 11.05pm on Saturday 14 February 2026, police from Ballina Traffic and Highway Patrol attempted to stop a hatchback on Langs Way, Woodburn. When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated where the vehicle allegedly reached speed of up to 200KPH. The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns, before the hatchback crashed near Wardell. Police arrested the driver - a 33-year-old woman - nearby, allegedly locating prohibited drugs after searching the woman and vehicle. She was taken to Ballina Police Station where an oral fluid test returned positive for cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine. She was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, possess prohibited drug and class A vehicle exceed speed limit greater than 45KPH. She will appear before Ballina Local Court on Thursday 26 February 2026. The oral fluid test has been sent away for analysis.
- About 9.50pm on Saturday 14 February 2026, police from Albury Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Wodonga Place, Albury, after they saw a woman exit the vehicle while it was still in motion before she tumbled onto the road. The driver - a 39-year-old man - exited the vehicle and allegedly became aggressive with police, before the woman approached and became hostile toward police as well. When police attempted to breath test the driver, he allegedly punched a senior constable to the face, before the man was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station where he was charged with assault police, hinder or resist police, refuse or fail to submit to breath analysis, and drive while licence cancelled. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Local Court 5 on Sunday 15 February 2026.
- About 11.23pm on Saturday 14 February 2026, officers attached to Georges River Traffic and Highway Patrol commenced a pursuit when a 27-year-old male driver allegedly failed to stop at a stationary RBT site on Fairford Road, Bankstown. The driver crashed a short time later and police attempted to arrest the man, however he escaped. He was later located by police at Padstow Railway Station where he was arrested and taken to Bankstown Hospital after refusing a breath test, where he refused further testing. He was taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with police pursuit, exceed speed greater than 45KMH, not stop when directed, resist police, refuse breath test, and refuse blood sample. The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 4 March 2026.
