NSW Police officers are issuing an urgent plea to drivers to slow down over the Easter long weekend after a concerning rise in the number of fatal crashes across the state this year.
As part of the Easter road safety campaign, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers have shared personal experiences from attending crash scenes in a further effort to reduce road trauma this long weekend.
NSW Police will have a high-visibility presence across the state during Operation Easter 2026 from 12.01am Thursday, April 2 to 11.59pm Monday, April 6, which coincides with a higher number of motorists travelling across the state for the long weekend or school holidays.
The high visibility police operation involves officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with the assistance of general duties and specialist police from all police commands and districts across the state.
A double demerits period targeting speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt and helmet offences will be in place for the same time period.
There have been 90 lives lost on NSW roads this year, which is nine more than the same time last year.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said the Easter long weekend should be a time for families to come together, not receive a knock on the door from police delivering the worst news imaginable.
“The police message this Easter long weekend is simple – slow down,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“Last year there were 355 fatalities, which is almost one death every day. That was 28 more than 2024. This trend is deeply concerning and completely avoidable.
“Every fatality is a life cut short and a family who will never be the same.
“Telling a family member someone has died in a road fatality is one of the most difficult parts of the job.
“The officers not only deal with the emotions of a life lost; but the sights, smells and sounds provide a reminder of the crash well after they have left the scene.
“Police are imploring drivers to do their part to stop the number of lives lost from climbing any higher.”
Plan your trip by downloading the Live Traffic NSW app, visiting livetraffic.com, calling 132 701, or using the TfNSW journey planning tool myjourneynsw.info.
Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.