Dangerous behaviour targeted in King's Birthday long weekend traffic operation
Tuesday, 10 June 2025 11:00:58 AM
Police urge all motorists to be safer on the road after a number of dangerous incidents across the state during the Kings Birthday long weekend.
Operation Kings Birthday long weekend 2025, a statewide traffic operation, commenced at 12am on Friday (6 June 2025) and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Monday 9 June 2025).
Double demerit points were in force for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
The Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with local police, patrolled roads across the state, targeting dangerous driving behaviour and risks on the roads – with the aim of preventing injury and death.
During the period, police saw a concerning number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, high-range drink-driving, and reckless driving.
Police issued 4,032 speed infringements, conducted 202,762 breath tests with 275 people charged with drink-driving, 655 positive roadside drug detections after 9,551 random drug tests conducted, and attended 287 major crashes, resulting in 75 people injured.
Three people including a motorcycle rider died on NSW roads over the period, the same number during the operation last year.
There were 399 mobile phone infringements, 221 seatbelt infringements and 6,665 other infringements issued to drivers.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, acknowledged the majority of drivers over this long weekend did abide by the road rules but there remains a group of road users that continue to break the law and this presents a risk to the whole community.
“Over the past few days of the Kings birthday long weekend, we have seen three people lose their lives and 75 people injured on our roads,” Assistant Commissioner David Driver said.
“Motor vehicle crashes are preventable, however when they occur lives can be lost, and others permanently changed.
“I want to really reiterate the message that driving is a high-risk activity, and all road users need to drive their vehicle with care and attention, and importantly adhere to the road rules,” he said.
Some examples of dangerous driver behaviour detected during the operation include:
Just before 6am on Friday (6 June 2025), police attempted to stop a stolen 4WD on the Castlereagh Highway, Aarons Pass. When it failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated; however, was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns. Police later located the vehicle in Dunedoo and initiated a further pursuit, before the 4WD drove onto private property and through multiple wire fences. The vehicle was later found abandoned, and the driver, 31-year-old man, was located with assistance from the Police Aviation Command (PolAir). He was taken to Dubbo Police Station and charged with take and drive conveyance without consent, exceed speed more than 20km/h, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, negligent driving, police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, destroy or damage property, resist officer in the execution of duty, and possess prohibited drug. The man was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday (7 June 2025).
About 6pm on Friday (6 June 2025), officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Highway Patrol stopped a van – allegedly displaying unauthorised plates – on Elizabeth Bay Drive, Budgewoi. Inquiries revealed the driver – a 54-year-old man – held a disqualified licence. He was subjected to a roadside drug test which allegedly returned a positive result, before he underwent secondary testing. He was issued a court attendance notice for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and will appear before Wyong Local Court on Saturday 7 June 2025. His passenger – a 64-year-old man – was searched by police and allegedly found in possession of prohibited drugs, lock picks and $9,400 counterfeit currency. He was issued a court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug, possess housebreaking implements, and possess counterfeit money and will appear before Wyong Local Court on Monday 23 July 2025.
About 12.25am on Saturday (7 June 2025), officers attached to Grafton Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped an SUV on Bent Street, South Grafton, after allegedly being seen travelling on the wrong side of the road. The driver, a 28-year-old woman, was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result. She was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.234. She was issued a court attendance notice for high range PCA and will appear before Grafton Local Court on Monday 21 July 2025. Her license was suspended.
About 11.50am on Saturday (7 June 2025), officers attached to Griffith Highway Patrol allegedly detected a motorcycle travelling at 203km/h along the Kidman Way, Coleambally. The rider, a 19-year-old man, was stopped and issued an infringement notice for P1 driver exceed speed limit over 45 km/h. Both his licence and the registration of the motorcycle were suspended, and the plates were seized.
About 2:10pm on Saturday (7 June 2025), officers attached to the Traffic Response Group attended a crash on Elizabeth St, Zetland. The 49-year-old driver was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result, before he was taken to Mascot Police station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.266. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and is to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 7 July 2025.
About 5.30pm on Saturday (7 June 2025), officers from Maitland Traffic and Highway Patrol initiated a pursuit after a sedan failed to stop at a red light on Weakleys Drive, Beresfield. The pursuit continued for about 190km, before being terminated due to safety concerns near the Broke township. The vehicle was monitored with assistance from PolAir and road spikes were deployed, before the sedan was stopped on the New England Highway at Witthingham. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was arrested and charged with several offences, including police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, exceed speed limited greater than 20km/h, and take and drive conveyance without consent of owner. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday (8 June 2025).
About 7.50am on Sunday (8 June 2025), officers attached to Kuring Gai Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on the M1 Motorway, Wahroonga, after it allegedly made an illegal U-turn to avoid an RBT. The driver, a 44-year-old woman, was subject to a roadside breath test returning a positive result before being arrested and a secondary breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.197. The passengers – two girls, aged five and 15 – were uninjured. The woman was charged with drive with high range PCA and make U-turn at intersection with traffic lights. She will appear before Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 31 July 2025.
About 5.35pm on Sunday (8 June 2025), officers attached to Wollongong Highway Patrol allegedly detected a motorcycle travelling on Lady Wakehurst Drive, Lilyvale, at 112km/h in a sign posted 60km/h speed zone. When police directed the rider to stop, they were allegedly reaching speeds of more than 120km/h. The rider, a 22-year-old man, was issued an infringement notice for overtaking on double unbroken lines and exceed speed limit over 45 km/h. His licence was also suspended.
About 1.45pm yesterday (Monday 9 June 2025), officers attached the Hawkesbury Traffic and Highway Patrol were performing speed enforcement duties on Old Northern Road, Maroota, when they detected a motorcycle travelling at 153km/h in a sign posted 60km/p zone. The motorcycle was stopped and the rider, a 24-year-old P1 licence holder, spoken to. He was issued an infringement notice for exceed speed more than 45km/h. His licence was also suspended, and registration plates confiscated.
About 3pm yesterday (Monday 9 June 2025), officers attached to Illawarra Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling the Corrimal area when they attempted to stop a Mitsubishi utility on Towradgi Road allegedly detected speeding. When the driver failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated travelling through local streets before stopping on Gilbert Street where the driver got out and attempted to flee on foot. Following a short search of the area, officers arrested a 31-year-old man on Short Street. During a search, police seized a knife and a can of capsicum spray in his possession. He was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with police pursuit - drive recklessly, drive while suspended, custody of a knife in a public place, and possess a prohibited weapon without permit. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Monday 28 July 2025.
Just before 10.30pm yesterday (Monday 9 June 2025), officers attached to the Traffic and Highway Patrol Traffic Task Force were patrolling Hume Highway, Liverpool, when they detected a Ford Mustang travelling at 124km/h in a sign posted 70km/h zone. The vehicle was stopped on the Cumberland Highway and the driver, a 39-year-old man, was subjected to a roadside breath test returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading on 0.098. The man was issued a court attendance notice for driver with mid-range PCA and will appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 23 July 2025. His was also issued an infringement notice for exceed speed more than 45km/h. His licence was suspended, and registration plates seized.