POLICE will lock down the ACT's borders to test every driver arriving or leaving for drugs and alcohol from tomorrow as Operation RAID attempts to keep Canberra's roads safe over Christmas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
ACT Policing and NSW police from Yass will join forces for the 14-day cross-border blitz, which aims to remove all drug and alcohol impaired drivers through high-visibility road blockades and blanket testing of all drivers.
Last year's 17-day crackdown on drink driving tested 9456 drivers in the ACT, with 72 returning results over the legal limit and 283 traffic infringements issued.
A single four-hour lockdown during last year's operation tested 678 motorists, netting three people for drink driving.
But this year ACT Policing have an additional weapon against impaired drivers at their disposal, with random roadside drug testing introduced earlier this year.
Swabs taken from a driver's mouth are tested for cannabis, methamphetamine and the main ingredient of ecstasy, MDMA, with a result typically taking about 10 minutes.
While the process is similar to breath testing, there is no legal level or limit for prescribed drug content and any positive result by a driver is an offence under ACT laws.
Superintendent of Traffic Operations Kylie Flower said police traditionally saw an increase in alcohol and drug consumption over the festive season and encouraged Canberrans to arrange alternative transport if they planned to indulge. ''We don't want you to become a statistic this Christmas,'' she said.
''If you are celebrating this festive season, please nominate a designated driver or take public transport home.
''ACT Policing and NSW police will be out targeting all motorists. This operation is specifically aimed at removing as many drink- and drug-affected drivers as possible from our roads.''
More than 100,000 breath tests were conducted in the ACT last financial year, with more than 1500 drivers returning results over the legal limit.
ACT Policing will target drink driving throughout December and January in a bid to keep Canberra's roads safe and reduce the road toll over Christmas - as will all state and territory police forces as part of Operation Crossroads, a national initiative that runs each year from December 23 to January 3 to reduce the holiday road toll.
In 2010, 18 lives were lost on ACT roads, with this year's toll standing at six.