Canberra police to focus on alcohol and drugs in holiday road safety blitz

Traffic Operations officer in charge, Sergeant Rod Anderson, said police would randomly breath and drug test drivers across the territory at all hours from November to January, including back streets, and immediately suspend anyone with a blood alcohol rating of 0.1 or higher on the spot.

Suspensions last for up to three months until the offender faces court.

"If you choose to drink and drive you will be caught," Sergeant Anderson said.

"You're really playing Russian roulette with yourself and other drivers if you get behind the wheel of a car when you're impaired by drugs or alcohol.

"People should plan to either drink or plan to drive but not do both. It would be quite inconvenient if people weren't able to driver over the Christmas and holiday period."

Police have caught more than 1000 people drink driving so far this year and another 320 people driving while on drugs.

Sergeant Anderson said roadside drug testing was increasing alongside a growing number of manufactured drugs.

Last year officers conducted more than 42,000 random breath tests.

Although the number of drink drivers had fallen slightly, Sergeant Anderson said many people were still not getting the message.

He said police had pulled over drivers with a blood alcohol content of up to almost 0.4, almost eight times over the legal limit of 0.05 for fully licensed drivers.

Readings of up to 4.2 had been recorded in collisions resulting in hospitalisations, he said.

Sergeant Anderson also reminded people travelling over the summer holidays to take a break every two hours to avoid fatigue.

Meanwhile, police caught more than 220 drivers disregarding traffic controls including stop signs and red or yellow lights during October.

Sergeant Anderson said 96 people were slapped with cautions.

"We know that over half of all collisions that occur in the ACT are at intersections as a direct result of people not obeyiong traffic controls," he said.