Anzac Day traffic operation concludes

Police are urging drivers to take responsibility for their behaviour on the roads after seven people lost their lives across the Anzac Day long weekend.

NSW Police ran Operation Anzac Day 2025 from Thursday, April 24 until Sunday, April 27 and double demerits were in effect.

Seven people died in crashes across the state during the operation, two more than for the same period last year. The total number of lives lost is 117 this year, six more deaths compared to the same period last year.

Police from specialist areas supported the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, with extended patrols across Metropolitan and Regional NSW. That included support of officers from general duties, the Public Order and Riot Squad, the Operations Support Group, the Mounted Unit, PolAir and Licensing Police.

Police targeted dangerous driver behaviour such as drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving, as well as speeding, not wearing seatbelts, and mobile phone use.

During the operation across the state, police issued a total of 9019 infringements, including 2538 for speeding.

Police conducted 156,260 breath tests with 249 people charged with drink-driving, and 5232 roadside drug tests, with 547 positive detections.

Officers attended 295 major crashes, resulting in 113 people injured.

There were 313 mobile phone offences detected, 186 restraint-related offences and 5982 other traffic infringement notices.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said this weekend is a tragic reminder that lives can irreversibly change in an instant on the road.

“We’ve seen a horror long weekend with seven lives lost on our roads. These are seven people who are not coming home and families dealing with terrible grief,” she said.

“I implore everyone to make safe, responsible choices every time you operate a motor vehicle.

“I want to thank our hardworking police who are out there 365 days a year, doing everything they can to keep the roads safe. While double demerits have now concluded, officers will continue to target unsafe, risky and illegal behaviours because we want everyone to arrive to their destination safely,” Minister Catley said.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said police had seen too many fatal crashes these school holidays.

“To lose any life is tragic. These deaths are avoidable,” he said.

“This should not be acceptable in our community.

“Drivers have to understand that momentary inattention can have disastrous consequences, it can take a life, and ruin many others.

“As police, we will continue to plead with drivers to travel safely, obey the road rules and reflect on how their bad decisions can impact every single road user.”