While no lives were lost on roads in the Newcastle and Hunter region during the recent holiday police blitz, hundreds of motorists have been caught flouting the law, with a sharp focus on drug and drink-driving offences.
Operation Christmas and New Year: The Local Results
The high-visibility road safety campaign, known as Operation Christmas and New Year, ran statewide from December 19 to January 4. It was supported by a double demerit period from Christmas Eve. In the Newcastle and Hunter highway patrol area, officers conducted a staggering more than 31,000 breath tests and almost 3000 drug tests over the 17 days.
The results were stark. Police detected 186 random drug testing offences and caught 64 drink-drivers. Beyond impairment, officers were also targeting speed, distraction, and fatigue. They issued 820 speeding fines and recorded a further 1773 other traffic offences, including breaches for seatbelts and mobile phone use.
A Welcome Reprieve Amid a Horror Year
The operation provided a moment of relief following a devastating 2025 on local roads. Across eight local government areas in the Hunter, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens, there were 30 road deaths last year. This accounted for more than 8 per cent of the NSW statewide toll of 355. Alarmingly, Lake Macquarie recorded the second-highest road toll in the state last year, with 11 deaths.
During the holiday operation, there were no fatalities on Newcastle and Hunter roads. However, police confirmed there were 19 crashes that resulted in injuries. One of the most serious drink-driving incidents involved a 33-year-old man at Nelson Bay on January 2. Police allege he was more than five times the legal alcohol limit when seen driving dangerously. He spent a night in custody before facing court on a high-range drink-driving charge.
Statewide Trends and a Concerning Warning
NSW Police released preliminary statistics showing 2025 was a particularly deadly year for vulnerable road users. Cyclist fatalities in the state tripled from five to 15, while 54 pedestrians were killed, mostly on suburban streets.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said while most drivers behaved well during the operation, a troubling trend emerged. "More than 2400 people tested positive to driving with drugs in their system during the 17-day operation," he said, highlighting a concerning rise in drug detections. His message was unequivocal: "If you choose to consume alcohol or drugs, do not drive."
Tragically, eight people died on NSW roads during the operation period. Assistant Commissioner Driver urged continued caution as school holidays continue. "We urge everyone to drive to the conditions and take their responsibility as a motorist seriously - it could be the difference in saving someone's life," he said.
The end of the double demerit period did not bring an end to road trauma. Just after midnight on January 4, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the New England Highway near Scone. A woman in her 30s had been hit by a car. She was treated by paramedics and later flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, underscoring the ever-present risks on our roads.
