Police in the Southern District have been kept busy with motorists breaking the road rules.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
On 8 January, a motorist was clocked well in excess of the maximum speed limit near Cromwell and later blew more than double the legal limit during a breath test.
The driver who was also unlicensed is due to appear in the Alexandra District Court tomorrow.
Otago Lakes Central road policing manager Senior Sergeant Sarah Thorn said such behaviour was a ticking timebomb that could have led to a tragedy.
She was thankful the motorist had been removed from the region's roads swiftly due to an increased police presence.
"I'm hopeful our continued vigilance and proactive approach to safer roads will act as a deterrent and reduce these kinds of risks throughout the course of the summer."
The holiday period has already been extremely busy for Southern District police, who have been working hard to ensure all motorists get to their destinations safely, she said.
Police would continue to target times and locations they knew were high risk and would undertake prevention and enforcement activities accordingly, Thorn said.
These include: speed enforcement, breath alcohol testing and operations around people using cellphones while driving, as well as checking that everyone is wearing a seatbelt.
Concern about repeat drink driving offenders
Meanwhile, police in Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay say a low number of drivers are over the alcohol limit, however, most of those charged have been convicted of the same offence before.
Police stops in the Eastern District over the New Year period recorded more than 2000 breath tests.
Of those, 14 people were over the limit, with half appearing in court.
At one operation just north of Lake Tutira, in northern Hawke's Bay, about 300 motorists were stopped.
Sergeant Steve Murray said one driver blew over the legal limit at 10.30am, believing he was sober enough from a drinking session the night before.
"People should never ever drive when impaired by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue.
"It's your life on the line, and everybody else sharing the road with you."
Other driver fatigue stops were undertaken at Nuhaka and Morere, with a full day spent on the three arterial routes in and out of Gisborne.
The team also carried out drink/drive checkpoints at Mahia and in the Gisborne CBD area.
The highest recorded was more than four times the legal limit.
Murray said it is still disappointing a small number of people are not driving safely.
He said most of those over the limit were previously convicted drivers.
