Australia's two most populated states have experienced "significant" drops in the road toll over the festive season.
While six people have died on NSW roads so far during Operation Safe Arrival, which began on December 21, that's 14 fewer deaths compared to the same time last year.
Across the year, road deaths are down nearly 10 per cent with 352 so far this year compared to 386 in the same period last year.
The state's Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy put the good news down to the higher number of police on local roads.
"Although it's disappointing to see a hit and run incident showing complete lack of care for other people's wellbeing, I'm satisfied this operation is reflecting the strong approach we have taken with more police saturating the roads," he said on Sunday.
The state has double demerit penalties in place for wrongdoers caught speeding, using their phones, not wearing seatbelts or motorbike helmets during the holidays.
So far more than 9000 leadfoot drivers have been sprung, while more than 15,500 non-speed related tickets have been handed out.
Of the more than 400,000 breath tests taken, 495 drink-drivers have been charged.
Victoria has also experienced a major decrease, which Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton put down to a combination of police and partner programs around drug testing, intelligence and safety barriers.
He said this year's annual figure was a "significant decrease" on last year's result, with 211 deaths compared to 258 in 2017.
Ten people have died on the state's roads since Operation Roadwise began on December 14.
That's down on the 17 who died before New Year in last year's operation and the 23 over the whole operation which ran until January 7.
"There's never one silver bullet, there's not one single thing - it's a combination, a range of factors," he Mr Patton said.
"Sometimes it comes down to a bit of luck as well."
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