Heavy traffic expected this Australia Day long weekend

THE Illawarra’s northern beaches will pump up the heat for a last hurrah of summer holidays this Australia Day long weekend, and with heavy traffic also forecast, motorists are reminded to take extra care on our roads. 

An evening of entertainment, food and fireworks will mark the Australia Day public holiday at Wollongong Harbour. More information HERE.

Transport for NSW Chief Customer Officer Roger Weeks said an increase in traffic means a rise in risks for travellers, but some simple steps can help reduce these.

“We’re expecting large volumes of visitors will flock to the coast to enjoy the warm start to the long weekend,” Mr Weeks said.

“Our data tells us we’ll see traffic building throughout Thursday ahead of Friday’s public holiday, with people leaving city centres to make the most of the long weekend.

“We’re also predicting heavy traffic on Sunday and Monday, as holidaymakers head home to prepare to return to school and work.”

As of midnight January 23 2024, 21 people have lost their lives on NSW roads so far this year, which is eight more than for the same time last year.

Mr Weeks reminded road trippers to be patient, take plenty of rest stops and drive to the conditions.

“Tragically we’ve already seen a rise in fatal crashes this year, and the majority of these have been on regional or country roads.

“Don’t rush or speed, the best way to save time on your journey is to plan ahead, check the journey planner tool to avoid when the heaviest traffic is expected at pinch points along on your route, and use navigation apps or tools like Live Traffic to stay across major delays.

“Driver fatigue is a major contributor in regional crashes. For longer trips, think ahead about where you’ll take a break. Picking a great place to stop, swap drivers, or grab a meal will make sure you factor this essential rest time into your journey. Always put safety first,” Mr Weeks said.

Double Demerits will be in operation from today, Thursday January 25 2024 to Sunday January 28 2024 inclusive for all speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences to encourage holidaymakers to drive safely.

NSW Transport has fast-tracked the onboarding and training of 124 councils, including all 94 regional councils, to upload data in real time to Live Traffic NSW. This means information on emergencies or incidents will be fed directly through to motorists through major navigation apps including Google and Apple maps.

For holiday traffic planning resources, tips and tools including detailed information on each pinch point, visit Transport’s holiday and journey planning webpage: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/plan-your-trip/holiday-driving 

To find the best times to travel to your destination, use the TfNSW pinch point journey planner tool at myjourneynsw.info and get the latest traffic updates by visiting livetraffic.com or calling 132 701.

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