Wellington Police District is promising more anti drink-drive operations in the run-up to Christmas after 27 suspected intoxicated drivers were caught on Friday night.
Senior Sergeant Doug Rowan, Wellington District Road Policing Groups, says 5808 drivers were breath tested at checkpoints or by mobile patrols in Wellington city, Kapiti Mana, throughout the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa as part of a national anti drink drive operation.
Five drivers will be prosecuted after failing evidential breath tests and another 22 drivers are likely to face prosecution once blood test results are known.
"We're disappointed that some people still choose to drink and drive, putting their lives and the lives of others at risk," Senior Sergeant Rowan says.
"Nationally drink driving levels, alcohol related injury crashes, prosecutions and the number of drunk drivers killed are all going up."
Senior Sergeant Rowan says that people who drink and drive in excess of the legal limit are 16 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a sober driver.
For every 100 drunk driver or rider killed in road crashes, there are 55 of their passengers and another 35 sober road users who die with them.
"We're heading into a busy time on the roads and a time when people might be more tempted to drive after attending Christmas functions.
"Our message is to think safe and be responsible on the roads this Christmas."
Practical safety tips include:
• be responsible • appoint a sober driver if you're intending to drink alcohol • use alternative transport • look after your friends and family members to make sure they don't drive drunk • encourage good host responsibility.
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