Christmas blitz on drinking drivers

Press, 5 December 1986, Page 8

Christmas blitz on drinking drivers

Christchurch traffic officers will soon begin a Christmas crackdown on drinking drivers. Checkpoints, random stopping, and a publicity campaign will be used to deter motorists from driving after drinking.

“Extra staff will be on duty from next week,” said the chief traffic officer in Christchurch, Mr Ray Hall.

There would be checkpoints in the city. Random stopping had a high level of public support and would also be used.

A study had shown that one injury accident was prevented for every 1000 cars stopped by traffic officers, he said. The Ministry of Transport wanted drinking drivers to realise that there was a strong possibility they would be stopped by traffic officers.

Mr Hall said that the Ministry advised motorists having drinks in the festive season to arrange alternative transport home.

Hosts of parties also had a responsibility to provide non-alcoholic drinks.

“New Zealand is a little more sophisticated now. It is no longer a joke to get the office junior drunk,” he said. Mr Hall said that firms putting on a Christmas social could arrange for a bus to take staff home. Those who had been drinking could then be taken home without being a danger to themselves or others on the roads.

“I hope that we do not have the usual rash of admissions to the accident and emergency department at the hospital,” he said.

“The health profes-

sionals would like a bit of a break at Christmas-time too.”

Christchurch motorists can expect a heavy concentration of traffic officers in the city from next week until Boxing Day.

Some of the officers would then move to highway patrols, to keep watch on holiday traffic. Firms planning to transport their staff home after an office party could hire buses from the Christchurch Transport Board. The board’s general manager, Mr Max Taylor, said that letters outlining the service offered by the buses had been sent to many firms in Christchurch.

Mr Taylor said that some firms had used the service in previous years.

“There is business for us and a service for the community,” he said.