![Police expect heavy Boxing Day traffic at Beresfield, Hexham Police expect heavy Boxing Day traffic at Beresfield, Hexham](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/tmUaC97GWTfBTvbgiBtbEs/66c333cc-6e16-448d-b9f8-8253bb3de63c.jpg/r0_0_1200_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Police say there is likely to be heavy traffic through the Hunter on Boxing Day, as the Christmas-New Year road blitz continues.
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Double demerit penalties are in force until 11.59pm on New Year’s Day and police are repeating their message to motorists to take care behind the wheel and not to drink and drive.
It comes after a woman was caught driving in Cessnock in the early hours of Christmas Eve with a blood-alcohol reading more than four times the legal limit.
Police are disappointed that people continue to behave irresponsibility on the roads and put others lives at risk.
- Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy.
Police said the 38-year-old was stopped about 3.10am after her vehicle hit a gutter and punctured the tyres on Wollombi Road.
She recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.221. Her licence was immediately suspended and she will face court on a high-range drink driving charge.
“Police are disappointed that people continue to behave irresponsibility on the roads and put others lives at risk,” NSW Highway Patrol commander Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said.
“Those who wish to consume alcohol during festive celebrations need to have a plan b and think about a designated driver for the next morning as well.”
Related reading: Police issue holiday warning after p-plater loses 15 demerit points
Hunter Highway Patrol supervisor Senior Sergeant Tony Grace said police would be out in numbers across the region to monitor behaviour on the roads for the coming days, with heavy traffic expected on and around the highway.
“Obviously we expect traffic to be heavy on Boxing Day because people travel [up the coast] over the holiday period,” he said.
“We just ask that drivers be patient, particularly in the Hexham and Beresfield areas.
“We have extra police in the area from the Sydney metropolitan area – because we get so much traffic we get more resources out of Sydney [at this time of year].”
Police conducted 46,000 random breath tests across the state on Christmas Eve, with almost 900 speeding fines issued on the day.