‘Fairly low’ rate of drink-driving pleases police

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE drink-drive rate detected in Tairawhiti has been low so far this festive season and the police hope the good behaviour continues.

Police had random stops going in the lead-up to Christmas and then on Christmas Bay and Boxing Day.

“The amount of drink drinking detected has been pretty good so far, fairly low, which is good,” said a spokesman for the Tairawhiti road policing team.

“But it is early days into the festive season.”

He said motorists could expect to see an increased police presence on the roads over the next few days.

“We will have the booze bus in the district from this weekend, and we will have extra random stops in place, concentrating on safe driver behaviour, drink-drive, speed and driving to the conditions.”

The spokesman said the highways into the region would be a lot busier today and tomorrow as R&V festival goers and other holidaymakers start arriving.

“We will be operating a fatigue stop again on State Highway 2 in the Waoieka Gorge tomorrow.

“Every driver coming into the region will be tested for alcohol.”