The Labour Day long weekend road safety operation has now concluded, with four lives lost on New South Wales roads, a tragic reminder that the decisions behind the wheel can have devastating consequences.
Operation Labour Day 2026 commenced at 12.01am on Friday 2 October 2026 and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Monday 5 October 2026).
The high-visibility operation saw police across the state targeting drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use, speeding and seat belt and helmet offences, with double demerits in place for the duration of the four-day operation.
Across the state, police issued 9,136 Traffic Infringement Notices, including 3234 for speed-related offences, 345 for mobile phone usage, and 130 for seatbelt or helmet-related offences.
Police conducted more than 211,474 breath tests, with 270 drink driving offences detected, and conducted 6180 drug tests with 812 drug driving offences detected, with 279 major crashes reported.
Since Thursday 1 January 2026, 265 people have lost their lives on NSW roads, including the four people not returning home to their families after losing their lives this long weekend.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley, said the figures show that too many drivers are taking risks on the road.
“Last week we warned that split second decisions could have deadly consequences.
“We’ve seen too many people killed and too many injured on the roads this weekend. It is tragic and, in most cases, totally avoidable.
“While double demerits are no longer in effect the message remains the same: slow down, drive to the conditions and obey the law. Police are on the road 365 days of the year because we all want the same thing – for everyone to arrive safely.”
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver APM, said every life lost was a stark reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility.
“The tragic reality is that despite warnings, enforcement activity and education campaigns, people are still choosing to engage in dangerous behaviour on our roads,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“Every fatality represents a family whose lives have been changed forever. Every serious crash leaves a lasting impact on victims, loved ones, first responders and communities.
“There is no excuse for driving after taking drugs, drinking alcohol, speeding, or getting behind the wheel when you are too tired to drive safely. These are choices, and they are choices that can have fatal consequences.”
“This operation may be over, but our enforcement efforts continue every day of the year. Drivers should expect to see police anywhere, anytime, because preventing road trauma remains one of our highest priorities.”
Incidents of note include:
At about 9.10pm on Friday 2 October 2026, Tweed/Byron Highway Patrol officers were conducting stationary roadside breath tests in the Banora Point area when the driver of a 4WD allegedly failed to stop. Officers stopped the vehicle a short time later on Pioneer Road where the driver – a 55-year-old man – underwent mandatory testing, allegedly returning a result of 0.129. The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with middle-range PCA to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court, Monday 2 November 2026. About 10.20pm on Friday 2 October 2026, police observed the same vehicle travelling on the M1 at Tweed Heads South. The same driver stopped as directed and was subjected to mandatory testing, allegedly returning a result of 0.114. The man was issued a second Court Attendance Notice for drive with middle-range PCA to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court, Monday 2 November 2026. The man’s licence was also suspended.
At about 12am on Saturday 3 October 2026, officers attached to Cumberland Highway Patrol were patrolling the Guildford area when they saw a hatchback allegedly travelling at 119km/h in a 70km/h area on Woodville Road. Police stopped the vehicle and following inquiries, found the man’s licence was suspended. The 35-year-old driver was subjected to mandatory testing, allegedly returning a positive result for methylamphetamine. Following a search of the vehicle, police allegedly located and seized methylamphetamine, a knife, and drug paraphernalia. The man was issued infringement notices for exceed speed limit by more than 45km/h and fail to stop at stop line at red traffic signal. He was also issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive whilst suspended, possess prohibited drug, possess drug administering implement, and custody of knife, and will appear at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 5 November 2026.
At about 7.45am on Saturday 3 October 2026, Mittagong Highway Patrol officers were conducting mobile speed enforcement on The Hume Highway, Berrima, when they observed a sedan allegedly travelling at 143km/h in a 11km/h sign posted area. The vehicle stopped as directed and the driver – a 21-year-old woman – underwent mandatory drug testing, allegedly returning a positive result. Following a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly also located and seized cannabis. The woman was cautioned and issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the speed over 45 and her licence has been suspended for six months.
Just after midnight on Sunday 4 October 2026, officers attached to Macarthur Highway Patrol were conducting mobile speed enforcement on the Camden Bypass, Narellan, when they observed an Isuzu utility travelling above the posted speed limit of 80km/h. The vehicle stopped as directed when signalled to by police and the driver – a 32-year-old man – underwent mandatory testing, allegedly returning a positive result. The man was arrested and taken to Narellan Police Station where he underwent secondary testing, allegedly returning a result of 0.250. The man was issued a Court Attendance Notice for exceed speed limit more than 45 km/h, drive with high range PCA, and drive with HRPCA and illicit drug. He is due to appear at Picton Local Court on Thursday 29 October 2026. His licence was also suspended.
About 9.15pm on Sunday 4 October 2026, emergency services were called to Sheet of Bark Road, Woodstock, following reports of a crash. Officers attached to Chifley Police District attended and found that a utility had crashed into a paddock. The driver – a 51-year-old man – was subject to a roadside breath test that allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Cowra Police Station where he returned a breath analysis reading of 0.152. The 51-year-old was charged with drive with high-range PCA and issued a court attendance notice to appear before Cowra Local Court on Tuesday 27 October 2026. The man’s licence was also suspended.
At about 6.30pm on Saturday 4 October 2026, officers attached to Batemans Bay Highway Patrol stopped a sedan as part of stationary roadside breath tests. Following inquiries, officers established the driver – a 25-year-old man – had been disqualified from driving until July 2029. Following mandatory testing at the scene, the man allegedly testing positive for methylamphetamine. The man was arrested and taken to Batemans Bay Police Station where he was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and was refused bail to appear at Local Bail Division – Court 3 on Monday 5 October 2026.
STATISTICS
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 9,136
Speed infringements: 3,234
Breath tests: 211,474
PCA charges: 270
Positive drug-driving tests: 812
Major crashes: 279
Fatalities: 4
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 3,362
Speed infringements: 1,202
Breath tests: 36,604
PCA charges: 84
Positive drug-driving tests: 255
Major crashes: 59
Fatalities: 1
Southern Region
Total infringements: 1,827
Speed infringements: 780
Breath tests: 29,506
PCA charges: 47
Positive drug-driving tests: 874
Major crashes: 40
Fatalities: 2
Western Region
Total infringements: 907
Speed infringements: 479
Breath tests: 18,116
PCA charges: 30
Positive drug-driving tests: 93
Major crashes: 24
Fatalities: 1
