Number of impaired drivers in Wellington district disappoints Police

Police are disappointed with the number of impaired drivers detected in recent times.

Acting Wellington District Police Road Policing Manager Senior Sergeant Doug Rowan says that between 29th January 2011 and 5th February 2011 the Wellington District Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG) charged 22 drivers with excess breath/blood alcohol offences.

TAG operates the 'booze bus', conducting breath testing checkpoints around various parts of the district on a regular basis.

Senior Sergeant Rowan says, "Of the 22 impaired drivers, 13 were caught in Wellington city, six in the Kapiti Mana area and a further three in Upper Hutt."

Six of these drivers were already disqualified or suspended from driving, two had warrants for their arrest on other matters and five were on their third or subsequent excess breath or blood alcohol charge.

What was of concern to Police though, was the large number of people randomly breath tested at checkpoints who failed the initial breath screen test.

"Between the 29th of January and the 5th of February, a total of 7185 vehicles were stopped at TAG checkpoints. Of those, 195 drivers failed the initial test. This tells us that the 'don't drink and drive' message is still not getting through."

Having one drink and getting behind the wheel is one too many.

"Drivers need to be responsible and plan a safe route home if they plan on drinking alcohol. We do not want to see people becoming just another statistic on our roads, for the sake of a drink."