Courts & Police
28 January, 2026
Six people tragically lose their lives after Australia Day Long Weekend traffic operation
A high-visibility traffic operation concluded on Tuesday, with six people losing their lives on NSW roads during the Australia Day long weekend.
A high-visibility traffic operation concluded on Tuesday, with six people losing their lives on NSW roads during the Australia Day long weekend.
The annual statewide road traffic safety campaign, which ran in conjunction with the double-demerits period, began on Friday 23 January and ended on Monday 26 January 2026.
The operation involved officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with the assistance of general duties and specialist police from all police commands and districts across the state.
Officers focused on preventing and detecting dangerous and high-risk driver behaviour including speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use and seat belt and helmet offences.
Southern Region
At about 1.50am on Sunday 25 January, officers attached to the Yass Highway Patrol stopped a Mitsubishi utility travelling on the Barton Highway at Murrumbateman for stationary testing.
The driver - a 41-year-old man - was subject to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result.
The man was arrested and taken to Yass Police Station for further testing, which allegedly returned a result of 0.229.
The man was charged with ‘drive with high range PCA’ and was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Yass Local Court on Thursday 26 February.
Metropolitan Region
At about 9.20am on Friday 23 January, officers attached to the Camden Highway Patrol stopped a Mazda 3 on Bringelly Road at Leppington.
When police spoke to the driver – a 29-year-old Minto man – he allegedly failed to supply a driver’s licence and told police he was a 30-year-old Picton resident.
Following initial inquiries, police confirmed the man’s identity and that his licence was suspended.
He also allegedly returned a positive random drug test result for cocaine.
The man was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, driver/rider state false name/home address, and interlock licence holder -not have approved device installed.
He will appear before Picton Local Court on Thursday 26 February.
In the Southern Region, the total number of infringements was 2,156, with 1,054 of those being speed infringements.
Nearly 25,000 (24,990 in total) breath tests were also conducted across the region’s roads, with 50 PCA charges, 185 positive drug-driving tests, 44 major crashes and one fatality.
In total across the state, police conducted 9319 random drug tests, with 746 drug-driving offences detected.
Police also conducted 208,355 breath tests, with 298 drink-driving offences recorded.
Across the state, police also issued 11,344 traffic infringement notices, with officers detecting 3630 speed-related offences, 365 mobile phone offences, and 220 seatbelt/helmet-related offences.
Acting Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Paul Scully said the weekend’s results were concerning.
“Many drivers are doing the right thing, but police are still seeing too many cases of people driving with little to no regard for themselves or others,” Acting Minister Scully said.
“Tragically, six people were killed on the roads this weekend. That’s six families whose lives are forever changed in the worst possible way.
“The police are doing everything they can do, they have been out in force taking action against illegal behaviour, but we need every driver to do their bit. Do not drive with alcohol or drugs in your system, put the phone away, wear a seatbelt and slow down – arriving a few minutes late is better than not arriving at all.”
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said speed, distraction and poor decision-making continue to put lives at risk, and the consequences were devastating.
“This has been a tragic weekend on our roads and the loss of life is both devastating and unacceptable. Every fatal crash leaves a family shattered,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“Our officers were out in force as a deterrent for poor driver behaviour, conducting random breath and drug tests and speed enforcement.
“Officers detected many high speeding offences and several drivers who were well above the legal alcohol limit.
“We will continue to maintain a strong presence on the roads, but every driver has a responsibility to make safer choices.”
Read More: Camden, Murrumbateman, Picton, Southern Tablelands, Yass, Wollondilly