Nabbed drivers ‘a disgrace’

By Rebecca Fraser
POLICE have expressed disgust after 12 people were nabbed drink driving last Friday night in Narre Warren and Berwick.
The shocking result has prompted a stern police warning that booze buses and other police operations would continue to intensify in the lead up to Christmas and drink drivers who continued to flout the law would not go undetected.
Police, in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), conducted the booze blitz, with almost 1000 motorists breathalised.
Five out of 613 motorists breath tested at the booze bus on Clyde Road, Berwick, exceeded the legal alcohol limit.
A Berwick man, aged 50, recorded a blood alcohol reading of .171 per cent.
A satellite car parked on nearby Soldiers Road also breath tested 108 drivers with three people over the prescribed alcohol limit. This included a 36-year-old Beaconsfield woman who recorded a reading of .143.
After the booze bus closed shortly after midnight, police officers continued to breath test in the area, detecting yet another drink driver.
Sergeant Pat McGavigan of Casey Traffic Management Unit said police road crews detected another three drink drivers during the course of the evening, including a 24-year-old probationary driver from Narre Warren South who recorded a blood alcohol level of .043.
Sgt McGavigan said the results were a disgrace and police would continue to focus on drink drivers in the lead up to the festive season.
“Just like the ad on the TV – if people continue to take risks on the road they will eventually be caught.
“We don’t want to see 12 people being caught in one night. If people are going to drink then leave the car at home or it is only a matter of time before they will be caught,” Sgt McGavigan said.
Casey’s road toll currently sits at five deaths this year, 10 less than the same time last year.
“Last year we had the worst road toll in the state. We do not want to see that title repeated again this year,” Sgt McGavigan said.