POLICE across the Hunter have carried out more than 6000 random breath tests during a four-day public holiday blitz.
Operation Labour Day 2024 saw officers flood roads across the region in an effort to drive down serious crashes and fatalities.
Police targeted distracted, dangerous, impaired and distracted driving during the double demerit period from Friday morning to Monday night.
Across the Newcastle and Hunter, police performed 6058 random breath tests and 693 random drug tests.
Nine people were charged with drink driving or driving under the influence, and 37 returned a positive indication for a prohibited drug.
Police issued 222 speeding tickets on Newcastle and Hunter roads, four for seatbelt or helmet offences, eight for using a mobile phone and 288 for other traffic infringements.
One woman sadly died in the local area after a horror crash near Scone on Friday afternoon, which injured four others.
So far this year, 258 people have been killed on NSW roads, with 188 of those in regional areas.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman, said too many drivers and riders continued to put lives in danger by taking risks.
"There are still far too many people breaking the rules on our roads. It needs to stop," she said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Chapman said
"We saw several incidents of drivers travelling with unrestrained passengers, including young children.
"Those drivers were lucky their interaction with police was not at a crash site. The rules around seatbelts and restraints exist for a reason and I would remind all drivers to ensure their passengers are properly restrained."
Late on Saturday night on the Central Coast, a vehicle was directed into a stationary random testing site at Gosford.
Police discovered two kids and another passenger were not wearing seatbelts, and the 34-year-old man driving the car was fined $1318 and 12 demerit points.
In Newcastle on Friday afternoon, a 19-year-old man who was a learner motorbike rider was pulled over travelling 163 kilometres per hour in a signposted 90 zone and lost his licence for six months.
