Police are urging safety on roads across the state this weekend as the school holidays finish, with usual traffic bottlenecks expected at several spots in the Hunter.
Highway patrol officers will be out in numbers as part of a high-visibility operation that began on Thursday and will continue until Monday.
Speeding, drink-driving, mobile phone and seatbelt offences will be among the common breaches they expect to target.
Inspector Dale Abbott is the traffic tactician for NSW Police's Northern Region, which encompasses the Hunter and stretches up the east coast.
"Here in the Hunter, we're expecting the typical bottleneck spots near Hexham, Heatherbrae, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay to be extremely busy with returned travellers from up north - many families have taken the opportunity this school holidays to venture into Northern NSW and Queensland," Inspector Abbott said on Friday.
"As always, please take your time on the journey back home, allow extra time for queues and delays, and have patience while behind the wheel."
NSW Highway Patrol commander Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said 170 people had died on the state's roads so far this year as of Friday morning.
"We encourage drivers to be patient, slow down, put away your mobile phones and don't drink drive or consume illicit substances," she said.
