With double demerits beginning yesterday, and many people planning trips to spend time with loved ones over the Easter weekend, Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is reminding drivers that road safety starts with them.

Ms Saffin said that with the combination of school holidays, the Easter long weekend, and BluesFest, there are lots of locals and visitors on our roads. This is a time to slow down, be patient with other road users and make wise decisions so everyone can arrive safely.

Whether you are driving across the state or down the road, drivers are urged to remember:

• Seat belts save lives:
  • Seatbelts double the chance of survival and reduce the risk of injury in a road crash. Drivers and passengers must all be wearing seatbelts correctly.
• Speeding kills:
  • Speeding is the number one killer on New South Wales roads. Know the road rules and follow them.
• Never text while driving:
  • Using a mobile phone while driving affects your attention and response time and increases your chance of crashing.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a motorbike:
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol
  • Drink driving is a major contributor to death on NSW roads..
• Do not drive if you are fatigued:
  • Fatigue accounts for around 20% of road deaths in New South Wales.

Double demerits will be in place from Thursday, 17 April 2025, to Monday, 21 April 2025, inclusive, for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.

A second double demerits period will be in effect from Thursday, 24 April 2025, to Sunday, 27 April 2025, inclusive

During this time, NSW Police will have a high-visibility presence targeting risky driver behaviour.

In 2025, there have already been 104 fatalities on New South Wales Roads, compared to 99 in the same period this year. Tragically, deaths on regional roads make up approximately two-thirds of all road deaths.