Southern District Police are reminding the public that officers will be on the roads anytime, anywhere and in any weather this summer as traffic volumes increase across the region. With the festive season approaching and more people travelling to visit family or enjoy events, Police are stepping up efforts to keep everyone safe.
Alcohol breath testing will be a key focus, particularly leading up to Christmas and New Year. Last weekend alone, more than 5000 drivers were tested at 13 checkpoints across Alexandra, Roxburgh, Wanaka and Queenstown.
Police confirmed that over 200 drivers had consumed alcohol. Of these, 22 were found to be over the legal limit and will face charges. Three drivers recorded extremely high levels of alcohol and had their licences suspended immediately.
Southern District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Sarah Thorn, urged motorists to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others on the road.
“Summer is a busy time on the roads, and in people’s calendars,” she said. “There are lots of people moving about the district, and plenty of events where alcohol is present.”
Inspector Thorn reminded the public of four key things to do when travelling: “Make sure everyone’s buckled up, put distractions away, keep your speed in check, and please – if you are impaired, by alcohol, drugs or fatigue, don’t get behind the wheel. It’s that simple.
“Arrange another way home and go and collect your vehicle the next day. A minor inconvenience is a far better option than being involved in a serious crash.”
She also said breath tests would be carried out both at checkpoints and whenever a driver is stopped.
“Every drink-driver we take off the road reduces the potential for that driver to create a situation where someone’s loved one dies or receives serious injuries on our roads.
“We all need to do better and stop accepting people dying on our roads is what happens when driving.
“Let’s make it a summer to remember for all the right reasons.”