The Christmas and New Year holiday period should be a time of happiness, an opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Unfortunately, too often it is also a time of tragedy with family and loved ones killed and injured on our roads.

In December 2021 there were 32 fatalities on NSW roads, with a further 30 deaths in January 2022. It’s heartbreaking to know these people will not be sharing Christmas with their families this year. The tragedy is that nearly every one of those lives lost, was the result of a driver or rider making a bad decision. Most of these deaths and the injuries that occur on our roads are preventable.

Don’t rush to get places these holidays. When the unexpected happens on the road - the speed that you're travelling at matters. 'Just a bit over' can be the difference between being able to stop in time or not at all. Your choice of speed can affect others as well as yourself. Slowing down reduces the risk or severity of a crash and gives more opportunity to react if other people make mistakes. A mistake should never cost someone their life or their long-term well-being.

There are plenty of celebrations over the holiday period. You need to plan ahead to get home safely after a day or night out. Remember, if you plan to drink then plan not to drive. Consider your options which could include getting a lift, catching a cab, staying with a friend, or sleeping in a swag.

It is important to remember that it can take some time for the alcohol to leave your body. After a heavy day or night of drinking, it can take more than 18 hours for your blood alcohol concentration to get back to zero. Ben and Melita’s stories below show that you need to plan for the day after. Many people are booked for drink driving the next day.

It is dangerous for drivers and riders to take stimulants and other illegal drugs. Cannabis, cocaine and similar drugs affect your driving skills and concentration, even though you may think you are driving well. Prescription drugs and over the counter medicines can also reduce your ability to drive safely. Mobile Drug Testing targets four illicit drugs - cannabis, cocaine, speed/ice and ecstasy. A wider range of drugs are detected through blood and urine tests which are ordered if a police officer has reasonable suspicion that a driver is under the influence drugs.

Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip, no matter how long or short or what time of day. It’s important to think about how tired you are before driving, recognise the early warning signs when driving and to avoid driving tired.

We are often busy preparing for Christmas and can burn the candle at both ends. Combining this with long trips can be a recipe for disaster. On long drives, even if you don’t feel tired, take regular breaks. Being awake for about 17 hours has a similar effect on performance as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05. Remember that sleep is the only way to overcome tiredness.

The police will be out in force to protect the community throughout the holiday period. Double demerits for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmets will apply:

• Friday 22 December to Monday 2 January inclusive which covers Christmas Day and the New Year
• Wednesday 25 January to Sunday 29 January inclusive which includes the Australia Day Public Holiday

Enjoy the holiday period and please remember we all have a part to play in keeping ourselves and our community safe on the road.