Police in NSW, Victoria detect close to 30,000 traffic offences over holiday period

Police in Victoria and New South Wales – the two most-populous states in Australia, where close to 60 per cent of national new motor vehicle sales were reported last year – say they detected nearly 30,000 traffic offences over the holiday period.

Operations conducted by authorities in both states were said to focus on drunk and drug driving, speeding, improper mobile phone use, and seatbelt or motorcycle helmet offences, as well as unregistered cars or disqualified drivers on the road.

It comes amid increased road tolls in both states last year, with 296 lives lost on the road in Victoria in 2023 – the highest result since 2008 – and 351 in NSW, which is 63 more than the prior year.

Victoria Police said it identified 19,386 offences on the road from 12:01am 15 December 2023 to 11:59pm 1 January 2024.

Among them were 7631 motorists caught speeding, including 5854 detected between 10km/h and 25km/h over the limit.

Authorities in Victoria said they detected 668 drunk driving and 535 drug driving offences during the period, while 921 motorists were found to have violated mobile phone laws.

Meanwhile 1728 unregistered vehicles were detected by Victorian authorities, as well as 704 unlicensed and 644 disqualified or suspended drivers, 828 motorists in violation of traffic signs or signals and 374 seatbelt offences.

Victoria Police also says it impounded 438 vehicles.

“Despite our warnings of a significant focus on alcohol and drug testing over the period, this did not appear to deter some motorists, with more than 1000 caught for drink or drug driving offences – this remains a major concern to us," Victoria Police's Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir, said in a media statement.

In New South Wales, police say 10,074 offences were recorded over its holiday-period operation – 12:01am 22 December 2023 to 11:59pm 1 January 2024 – during which time double demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences were in force.

NSW Police says 8069 speed infringements, 631 drunk driving offences and 1374 drug driving violations were tallied over the period.

“During the festive season, we saw a number of concerning incidents of dangerous driving, including excessive speed, drink and drug driving and distractions.

“We will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach to lawbreakers. The end of the double demerit operation isn’t an excuse to forget the road rules," Traffic and Highway Patrol State Operations Commander, Superintendent for NSW Police, Anthony Boyd, said in a media statement.