THE holiday road toll in NSW was at one after day two of Operation Safe Arrival yesterday, but senior police fear it will rise with so many motorists putting lives at risk.
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Tamworth police arrested two men at the weekend for drink-driving offences.
A man was stopped for a breath test at 12.20am on Saturday after leaving a domestic in South Tamworth and was charged with high range PCA after recording a blood alcohol reading of 0.173.
He was also charged with assault and damage property in relation to the domestic incident and granted conditional bail to remain in Inverell.
Another man was arrested at 10.45pm on Saturday night for mid-range PCA after being stopped for a random breath test on Bridge St, Tamworth.
The 54-year-old Loomberah man will attend Tamworth Local Court on January 14.
Since the start of the operation on Friday, police have conducted 83,806 breath tests (up from 82,686 last year) with 111 charges laid (down from 185 last year).
Commander of the NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, assistant commissioner John Hartley, says that too many motorists are still drink- driving.
"Whilst less people have been charged during this operation with drink-driving than last year, there are still far too many people doing it," he said.
"Every time someone has a drink and gets behind the wheel they are putting their lives and the lives of innocent people at risk. As police, one of the hardest parts of the job is telling families their loved one has been killed, and many of these incidents can be avoided if people were more responsible on the roads."
On Saturday, police caught 1011 motorists speeding (up from 939 last year) and issued 1544 infringements for other traffic offences (up from 1465 last year).
The operation will conclude at 11.59pm on Friday, January 4, with officers targeting speeding, drink-driving, seatbelt and other traffic offences.
Double demerit points have been in place from 12.01am Friday, December 21 and will remain in force until 11.59pm on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 for speeding, seatbelt and helmet offences.
Meanwhile a Gunnedah man was fined for offensive behaviour and limb protrude from vehicle on Saturday night after he used offensive language and hand gestures to police outside of the window of the vehicle he was travelling in on Bridge St in Tamworth.
