It is the first time in recent years that NSW has recorded a zero road toll over an Easter break.

 

Last year, the state had the second highest number of road deaths with nine fatalities.

 

A total of 22 people died on Australia's roads during the Easter long weekend, four fewer than last year.

 

Western Australia and Queensland had the highest tolls with six each, Victoria recorded five, Tasmania recorded its highest number in several years with three dead, while South Australia and the Northern Territory each had one.

 

A police spokeswoman says the result in NSW is amazing, given that in some years as many as 12 people have died over the four days.

 

This year's police holiday safety campaign involved more than 40,000 breath tests, and officers issued over 1,200 speeding fines.

 

Police Minister David Campbell says the result is a tribute to the police efforts and to those people who drove sensibly.

 

"That's the first time since 1949 - since road statistics have been kept - and we've got a population that has doubled," he said.

 

"There are 13 times more cars on the road since that time, so we have increased population and increased the number of vehicles. It is a good result."

 

But Mr Campbell says the road toll is not the whole picture.

 

"People continue to speed, some people up to double the speed limit," he said.