Double demerits are will be in effect from Wednesday until Sunday, with drivers to face extra penalties for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
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Hunter highway patrol cluster supervisor Senior Sergeant Tony Grace urged drivers who wanted to have a drink on Australia Day not to drive and organise an alternate way home
Sergeant Grace also reminded drivers that traffic is expected to be heavy in areas such as Beresfield and Heatherbrae this weekend, so to leave extra time or avoid those areas if possible.
While there have been no road fatalities in the Central Hunter so far this year, four have died on Hunter roads since the start of 2017.
Across the state, 19 lives have been lost in road accidents.
Sergeant Grace said people needed to be just as cautious on small trips as they were on longer drives as many road fatalities involved local people on local roads.
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
