AS a major state-wide police blitz targeting drink drivers over the festive season kicks off Cairns drivers are being urged to take care and be aware.
The annual Christmas road safety campaign, Operation Victor Mistletoe, was launched today with police rolling out traffic enforcement operations focusing on drink and drug driving during the party season.
Extra police will be out in force across Queensland’s highways and road networks to ensure everyone makes it home safe over the holidays.
Tragically, 251 people have lost their lives on Queensland roads this year and Cairns Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Craig Johnson is urging people to drive safely.
“The Far North Highway Patrol Unit will be commencing traffic enforcement operations this weekend, targeting drink and drug drivers during the festive season,” he said.
“We are urging motorists planning on drinking to ensure they return home safely.
“Too many lives have been lost on Far North roads this year.”
This year’s concentrated operations were brought forward a week to particularly target end-of-year celebrations in the lead-up to Christmas.
Police are urging partygoers planning on drinking to also plan their trip home accordingly without putting themselves and others in danger.
More than 20 per cent of road fatalities in Queensland are linked to drink driving.
Queensland Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Stream said too many lives have been lost on Queensland’s roads this year.
“We want every single road user including car drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders, motorcyclists and truck drivers to take a moment to ensure they are all making safe decisions this festive period,” he said.
“We have rolling police operations planned across the road networks where officers will be conducting random breath tests, drug tests, speed detection and general road enforcement.
“Expect to see us anywhere, anytime.”
The Queensland Police Service will be conducting Operation Victor Mistletoe over the festive holiday period until 25 January next year and will involve a range of strategies to target motorists speeding, drink and drug driving, driving distracted or not wearing a seatbelt.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Bat-wielding youth rob girl and Council to test warning station.
