Motorists stopped when least expected

The Grim Reaper was used to provide a chilling visual reminder to the public that drinking and driving potentially results in death.

It was part of a joint Dunedin Strategic Traffic Unit (STU), ACC, and SADD (Students against Drunk Driving) campaign to educate young adult drivers about drink driving. 

The campaign also included a week-long enforcement operation from 15 May targeting motorists at times when they least expected to be stopped. 

“The number of people under 20 years old that believed they were OK to drive despite having had a small quantity of alcohol was a strong concern to us,” says Dunedin STU Section Supervisor Sergeant Mel Aitken.

She adds that statistics showed motorists were taking risks in the small hours of the morning, believing there were no dedicated traffic staff on the roads.

STU staff were rostered to work night and early morning shifts, resulting in 19 Excess Breath Alcohol apprehensions from the Dunedin central area over the week, 16 of which were between midnight and 7am.

A couple of incidents from the enforcement phase stand out. “On the first day of the operation, a male was stopped at a checkpoint who blew in excess of 550 micrograms and was on his way to operate a crane for the day.

“A second incident late Sunday evening saw a tourist travelling from Invercargill to Christchurch, recording a breath result of 545 micrograms,” says Mel.

“The recent apprehension in Dunedin of a female who exceeded the evidential Seres machines measuring capacity and subsequent blood result of 426mls highlights our concern.”

The operation saw checkpoints established at various sites around the city with Grim Reapers deployed as a graphic reminder to the public. “While perhaps comical in appearance, the grim reapers were greeted well by the public, with positive feedback stimulating a good deal of discussion by those waiting at the checkpoints,” says Mel.

As part of the joint operation with SADD, local high school students were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards drinking and driving. 

SADD coordinator Julie Soper was shocked at the high number of students (77 percent) who felt they could drink some alcohol and still be OK to drive. 

More than a quarter of those surveyed reported to have got into a vehicle with a drunk driver within the week surveyed.

In addition to the ACC booze bus at checkpoints, ACC also provided an extensive media campaign for the operation, including newspaper advertorials, television coverage and promotion of the Grim Reaper theme through radio advertising. 

The results from SADD and the STU operation were highlighted in weekly advertising.

“While the actual figures might seem low compared to similar operations held on Auckland’s motorways, on a comparative scale they were relative in respect to the number of vehicles stopped,” says Mel.

Mel says they will continue to run random alcohol sting operations throughout the coming months.”