Operation Safe Holidays has officially concluded for another year but South Australia Police will continue their road safety efforts as drug driving continues to be an issue.
During the operation, which targeted the festive season and ran from 14 December 2019 until 1 January 2020, a total of 1,982 drug tests were conducted.
The tests resulted in a total of 231 drug detections, meaning almost 12% of people tested were driving with THC, Methylamphetamine and/or MDMA in their system.
These results not only reflect the importance of targeting drug drivers, but they also coincide with yesterday's launch for SAPOL's latest drug driving campaign. The media campaign, which was announced at police headquarters, aims to show that you can still get caught long after the high is gone.
Operation Safe Holidays also included thousands of alcotests, with a total of 24,921 drivers tested and 171 of those tests resulting in a detection. This shows that 0.68% of people were drink driving, suggesting the majority of road users understand that they should not drive while under the influence of alcohol.
A total of 1,220 people were issued with an exceed speed expiation notice, 162 were issued with an expiation notice for mobile phone offences, and 121 were issued an expiation notice for seatbelt related offences.
Superintendent Bob Gray, the Officer in Charge of the Traffic Services Branch, says the results are incredibly concerning given the horror year South Australia has just experienced.
"This is just unbelievable, after everything that's happen in 2019, after all the lives we've lost on our roads, people still choose to do the wrong thing," he said.
"And at the end of the day, this is exactly that – a choice. People choose to take these drugs, and they choose to operate a vehicle.
"There are no excuses here, take responsibility for your bad choices."
Follow this link for more information on SAPOL's latest drug driving campaign: www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police-news-assets/front-page-news/police-launch-new-drug-driving-campaign-in-wake-of-2019-review#.Xg18bigzZaR
