POLICE will crack down on drunk and drugged-up drivers this summer in an effort to cut the Christmas road toll, as the latest figures reveal a third of drink drivers this year were repeat offenders.
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ACT Policing is one month into a three-month campaign targeting alcohol and drug-impaired driving after becoming frustrated at the number of reoffenders they encounter on the roads.
Recent figures show drink drivers in the territory are older than many people would expect, with drivers aged 25 to 34 racking up even more offences than those committed by younger and more inexperienced drivers.
The biggest category of offenders are males in this age bracket - 269 men aged 25 to 34 have been charged with drink-driving offences this year alone, compared with 61 women.
In an open letter to territory drivers in the Sunday Canberra Times, the ACT's chief police officer, Rudi Lammers, has warned people that their decisions to speed, drive while fatigued or take drugs or drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel could kill - either themselves or others.
''Do you want that on your conscience for the rest of your life?'' he asked.
However, Canberra's roads have been slightly safer this year. There have been six deaths so far, compared with 12 for all of last year.
And even though there have been at least 513 collisions resulting in injuries so far this year, it could end up being the lowest number in this category in the past five years.
Despite the improvement, an ACT Policing spokesman said Christmas was still expected to be one of the busiest operational times of the year.
''Police are continually frustrated and disappointed at the number of repeat drink-drive offenders who treat the law and the safety of other road users with such indifference and contempt,'' the spokesman said.
''The community needs to be aware of the huge risk these offenders present to all road users.
''Recidivist drink-driving is a community issue - if someone knows of a person who is a repeat drink-drive offender, they should say something or contact police and we will take action.''
ACT ambulance officer Kieran Hitchenson, 38, a father of one who is rostered to work on Christmas Day, said he had lost count of the number of crashes he had seen in the past 14 years, and that even experienced drivers can sometimes be dangerous if they ''think they know better''.
''The most frustrating part of the job is where someone has a significant injury and no matter what you do you can't save them,'' Mr Hitchenson said.
