The official holiday period was a quiet time for the region’s Serious Crash Unit; staff were not called out once. There were no serious or fatal injury crashes in the North Shore, Waitakere, and Rodney Police District for the entire holiday period.
Inspector Dave Walker, O/C Motorways and Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG) says, "Police were out in force over the holiday period throughout the District. Highway Patrols aimed to provide maximum coverage at peak times while booze buses worked more than ever before. It is extremely rare to have no serious or fatal crashes in the District and the heavy police presence on the roads has delivered a good outcome " says Inspector Walker.
Since early December and during the holiday period, Operation Spike targeted drink driving in the District, staff also assisted at some checkpoints in Auckland City.
During the operation, checkpoints were set up on a scale never seen before in the District. Drivers were coming across checkpoints in urban, but also rural areas including, Kumeu, Coatsville, Silverdale, Muriwai, Snells Beach, Piha and Mangawhai. Inspector Walker says due to the number of staff available, police could operate four checkpoints simultaneously on any given night in the district.
- A total of 120 checkpoints (last year 69)
- 79,246 drivers were stopped (last year 47,985)
- 134 drivers failed an evidential breath test (last year 104)
- a further 40 opted for blood tests that were sent away for analysis
- 53 vehicles seized, from drivers either suspended, disqualified or unlicensed
- 23 drivers were suspended for 28 days immediately as they exceeded 800 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, which is double the legal limit
The number of drivers caught was up from last year. Inspector Walker says, "While some drivers still continue to offend, the higher number of checkpoints could also mean more drunk drivers were caught. The checkpoints operated round the clock and we even stopped drunk drivers on the way to work," says Inspector Walker.
The checkpoints also had other benefits, 18 people were stopped who had outstanding warrants issued for their arrest.
ISSUED BY:
Jayson Rhodes
Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police
488-9758 or 027 281 0271