NSW Police are alarmed at the number of drivers throughout the state and across the Hunter who in the last three days endangered the lives of other road users.
Operation Safe Return including double demerits concluded at midnight - police breathalysed more than 150,000 drivers, charging 158 of them.
Two people lost their lives on the state's roads during the operation including one driver who lost his life in the Hunter.
The 52-year-old was the passenger in Ford Sedan which hit a tree at Buchanan south of Maitland in the Werekata State Conservation Area on Friday night.
The driver, a 20-year-old man, is in a critical condition in hospital and the two other passengers both aged 18 were taken to hospital at the time with minor injuries.
The Crash Investigation Unit is investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the crash and the car has been seized as a part of inquiries.
Police also issued more than 3,660 speeding infringements.
A Hunter Valley man is off to court in March after he was caught by Highway Patrol officers traveling in excess of the signposted 90km/hr on the New England Highway near Singleton on Friday.
The car took off from police and a pursuit was initiated with the driver then then seen driving an estimated speed of 120km/hr to 140km/hr in a 60km.hr zone at Singleton.
The 20-year-old driver was eventually stopped and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with six traffic offenses.
