NSW Police are urging drivers to get home safely ahead of heavy traffic expected over the weekend as families return from holidays.

Many cars are expected to be on roads across the state as they head home before school returns next week.

There have been 10 deaths during the past two weeks since the school holidays began.

There were nine lives lost in the same period last year.

There have been 294 serious crashes involving injuries since 5 July, which is 71 less than the same time period last year.

Across the July school holidays, police have:

• Issued 17,095 infringement notices
• Issued 6163 speeding offences
• Conducted 78,923 breath tests
• Detected 369 drink driving offences
• Detected 634 positive roadside drug tests
• Detected 447 mobile phone offences
• Detected 29 restraint offences
• Detected 3031 licence offences