Summer Road Policing Northland
Summer Road Policing
Northland
With the summer party season in full swing, Northland Police will be breath testing every motorist they stop in a bid to stop drink driving.
Northland Road Policing Manager Inspector Murray Hodson says crashes involving drink driving remain a serious issue and play a major part in the road toll.
Mr Hodson
says Police will be conducting high profile intensive
alcohol checkpoints over the summer period in an attempt to
deter all drink drivers.
The official holiday period runs
from 4pm on Monday December 24 to 6am on Thursday January
3.
This holiday season Police will be lowering the speed tolerance level to 4km/h over the posted speed limit through until 7am on Monday January 7.
Mr Hodson says family and friends play an important role in stopping drunk drivers getting behind the wheel.
"Northland is one of the most
rural districts in the country and in some areas rural
residents continue to drive after drinking
alcohol.
It’s not good enough. Driving is a privilege,
not a right. Stay the night with family or friends or
arrange a sober driver."
Mr Hodson says police will be patrolling rural roads, as well as main arterial routes, and will also be relying on the community to report any instances of drink driving.
He points out that at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (adult legal limit), an adult driver is about 16 times likely to die in a crash as the same driver with a zero blood alcohol level. The risk for teenage drivers is greater than for those aged over 20 years.
Mr Hodson says while the official holiday period
ends on January 3, Northland Police will be carrying out
high visibility patrols for most of the summer.
Operation
Summer, which started this week (Monday December 17) and
goes through to February 10, will include breath testing
checkpoints, foot patrols, and hotel checks.
Along with
that operation is Operation Crossroads 2012, a joint
Australia and New Zealand road safety campaign that will
take place during the official holiday period.
It aims
to increase driver awareness of safe driving to reduce road
crashes.
"This means we will have a real focus on keeping Northland's roads safe for our local people and visitors," says Mr Hodson.
"We want everyone to enjoy their holiday, and to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with loved ones, not spend it mourning the death of family or friends on the road."
Tips for a safe journey:
Plan your trip -
take plenty of breaks and share the driving
Be
patient
Drive to the conditions - the speed limit is
not a target
Ensure everyone is wearing a seatbelt or
child restraint
Do not drive after drinking
alcohol
Respect other road users, including cyclists
and
pedestrians