Since the inception of RAID in the Northern Territory, 4882 roadside breath tests have been conducted and 73 apprehensions made for drink driving offences. Police remain concerned that the message is not getting through as figures show that one in every 66 drivers was detected with a blood alcohol reading.
A further 140 drivers have been apprehended for licence related offences, 212 for other traffic offences and 29 for other crime related offences.
Commander Kate Vanderlaan of the Traffic and Specialist Services Command said Operation RAID is a vital tool for monitoring public safety on our roads, protecting the public against dangerous driving and other traffic offences.
"Any crash is an unforseen tragedy and serious injury and death can be avoided with police presence and the increase of random breath testing units over the festive season.
"Police will remain vigilant in their efforts to capture offenders, operating random breath testing units in both high profile areas and in back streets throughout Darwin and the Northern Territory.
"The simple message is do not drink and drive, you can't escape breath testing this festive season," she said.
Last weekend, all Federal, State and Territory police agencies joined with New Zealand Police in a co-ordinated Australia and New Zealand operation targeting road users in the lead up to Christmas.
Over the first two days of the operation, nearly 200,000 motorists were tested for alcohol and 1,200 tested for drugs. Of those tested, one in every 145 tested positive to alcohol and one in 50 drivers tested positive to drugs.
The operation also identified over 11,000 other traffic offences and nearly 1,000 criminal offences.
Karl O'Callaghan, Operation RAID spokesperson and Western Australia Commissioner of Police said he was disappointed at the large number of arrests over the weekend.
"People are not learning the lessons from the past. Our aim as police officers is to ensure the safety of all members of our community. People who take drugs or drink alcohol and decide to drive present a huge risk to the whole of the community. An accident caused while impaired at the wheel can have a long lasting impact on you or even someone else's life. Everyone has the right to travel on our roads safely. This needs to stop," Mr O'Callaghan said.
Operation RAID will run until midnight 12 December 2010.
Sarah Trinne
8922 3531
0437 163 332
