Motorists Urged To Stay Safe On Roads Over Christmas

Motorists heading off for a Christmas celebration or a summer escape are urged to plan their journey and drive safely over the holiday period, with high traffic volumes expected across NSW.

NSW Police will enforce double demerits for speeding, motorcycle helmet, seatbelt and mobile phone offences from today, Friday, December 2, 2024 to Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

A number of major regional roads projects will be shutting down during the holiday break, and many projects will still have reduced speed limits in place and motorists are reminded to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs.

If loading up the car, trailer, caravan, or boat, take the time to check everything is secure, all tyres and blinkers are in good condition, and drivers should be across the rules around how to drive safely when towing.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said thousands of motorists were expected to hit the road and head to the regions to make the most of the Christmas holidays.

“We want people to have a safe and happy holiday,” Ms Aitchison said.

“Tragically, as of midnight on 17 December 2024, 330 people have lost their lives on NSW roads so far this year which is one less than the same time last year.

“So, I’m asking everyone to please slow down and take extra care on our roads to make sure this is a merry Christmas.

“Stick to the speed limit, never drive if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol, make sure you’re well rested before hitting the road, always wear your seatbelt, wear a helmet if you’re riding a motorcycle and don’t use your phone illegally.”

Transport for NSW Executive Director Operations Management Craig Moran said this was always one of the busiest periods on our road network, with people moving right across the state to visit family and friends for Christmas or to enjoy a summer break.

“We’ll have dedicated staff working around the clock to make that journey as smooth as possible,” Mr Moran said.

“We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely and full of holiday spirit.

“The best way to do that is to plan your journey, drive to the conditions and pack some patience.

“Our holiday and journey planning website has everything you need to plan your trip, with tools to help avoid the busiest times on our roads, an interactive rest stop map to plan your breaks, and access to Live Traffic, where you can check out real time incident information.”

Find the best times to travel to your destination with the TfNSW pinch point journey planning tool at www.myjourneynsw.info and download the latest traffic updates from the Live Traffic NSW app, or visit www.livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

• Topics:

• Holidays
• Road Safety
• Motoring