Sky the limit for drink drivers

WAIKATO Police are warning drivers to get used to this scene on our roads.   BAY OF PLENTY TIMES PHOTO

Police throughout the Central North Island have a simple message for those contemplating drinking and driving this summer — don’t.

The threat of encountering a checkpoint anytime-anywhere takes on more significance this week as staff from across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Eastern and Central Police Districts combine resources to saturate the region with booze buses.

Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman said the Traffic Alcohol Group phase of Operation Rose was the first part of a co-ordinated plan that even includes the use of patrolling aircraft.

‘‘We want to send a reminder to people that with the holiday period rapidly approaching it’s just not worth the risk drinking and driving. With the run up to Christmas we ask those planning work place functions to plan how everyone will return home safely, at the end of the day better the cost of a cab than a fine or even worse, a death or horrific injury.’’

Mr Tooman said a Highway Patrol phase would see a highly visible Police presence on road networks within the Region concentrating on the big five of road policing; speed, careless and dangerous driving, seatbelts, alcohol and at risk drivers.

As of November 27, in the Waikato 16 people had died on State Highways, 33 in the Bay of Plenty, 18 in Central and 12 in the Eastern District.

‘‘Over the last Christmas-New Year Holiday period 18 people died on New Zealand roads, 65 were seriously injured and 349 suffered minor injuries. Broken down into districts this included four people dying on roads in the Central District, three in the Bay of Plenty, two in the Waikato and one in Eastern.’’

With thousands of extra vehicles expected to be clog roads over the holidays Police are introducing a new tool to their armoury, the use of aircraft acting as an ‘eye in the sky’.

‘‘We’ll be using two planes, one based out of Palmerston North covering the Eastern and Central Districts, the other based in Hamilton covering the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. They’ll be patrolling checkpoints, monitoring traffic and keeping an eye out for any offending motorists allowing us to respond more quickly to any problems.’’

While Operations such as Rose offered an enforcement solution to holiday driving they weren’t the only answer and drivers had responsibilities too.

‘‘The objective is to arrive alive, to do that drivers should plan their trips giving themselves plenty of time, make sure they take rest breaks, have something to keep the kids occupied during the journey and have their air conditioning working. Those intending towing boats and caravans should already be getting them checked out, it’s no use finding your brakes or tail lights are shot the day you plan to set off.’’

Mr Tooman said service stations will get very busy with last minute service requests so the wise thing to do was to get in now.