Northland Police have caught 55 drivers over the legal alcohol limit in the past week, including during the long Matariki weekend.
Northland Road Policing Manager, Inspector Anne-Marie Fitchett says it¡¯s disappointing so many aren¡¯t getting the message.
¡°We¡¯ve already had 21 deaths due to crashes on our roads in Northland this year, and sadly alcohol is an ever-present contributing factor to any road toll.
¡°On Sunday morning we received a report from a concerned member of the public, who allegedly witnessed a vehicle towing a boat being driven dangerously on State Highway 1 near Waipu.
¡°Police caught up with the driver, stopped and breath tested them. They blew more than five times the legal limit, with an excess alcohol reading of 1280mcg.
¡°This sort of driving behaviour is incredibly reckless, and unacceptable. It¡¯s a miracle this didn¡¯t end in tragedy,¡± she says.
In the past 12 months, Police in Northland have issued more than 14,500 speeding infringements.
¡°That¡¯s a lot of people making poor driving decisions, but more importantly, a huge amount of people putting other motorists and their families at risk.
¡°We all want to go home to our families at the end of the day, and as a community we can make a big impact on whether that happens or not.?
¡°Not many people equate driving sober and staying within speed limits to potentially saving lives, but that¡¯s what it comes down to,¡± Inspector Fitchett says.
If you see any unsafe driving behaviour, please contact Police on 105 or *555 if it is after the fact or 111 if you believe someone is in immediate danger.
ENDS.
Tony Wright/51½ÖÉä
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