The launch of Operation Safe Long Weekend came with a plea from police to drive safely but it has not stopped a handful of people drink driving – including one on only three wheels.
Thirteen confronting SA road safety advertisements will flood the internet and television screens to encourage better driving.
An 18-year-old man from Upper Hermitage started the long weekend by losing his provisional licence for a year after he was allegedly caught drink-driving on three wheels at Warradale in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police received numerous reports of a gold Ford sedan driving without its front right wheel in the southern suburbs about 12.18am.
The vehicle was seen by witnesses heading north on Main South Rd at Darlington and eventually past the Marion shopping centre.
Patrols located the sedan soon after on Diagonal Rd and stopped the vehicle with the driver undergoing a breath test.
The 18-year-old returned a positive reading of .191.
He was reported for driving in a dangerous manner, drink-driving and multiple breaches of his provisional licence.
In addition to losing his licence, his car was impounded for 28 days.
He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
An Upper Hermitage man, 18, was charged with drink driving after he was stopped in this car. Picture: SA Police
The car was missing its front right wheel when it was stopped on Diagonal Rd at Warradale early on Saturday, June 10. Picture: SA Police
On Saturday night, a 46-year-old man from North Haven allegedly blew a blood alcohol reading of .109, more than twice the limit after a mobile screening test was conducted at Port Lincoln.
Police stopped the Hyundai van on the Lincoln Hwy about 6.30pm.
Following the test he was reported for drink driving and he was issued with an instant loss of licence notice for six months.
The 46-year-old will attend court at a later date.
Police officers conduct random breath test on Port Wakefield Road in Mawson Lakes. Picture: Tom Huntley
Most recently, a 34-year-old Richmond man who lost his licence for a year after he was allegedly caught by patrols drink-driving at Port Adelaide on Sunday night.
Police will allege they spotted a Toyota sedan on Commercial Rd without its headlights on about 6.15pm.
The car was stopped soon after by police and the driver underwent a breath test, returning a positive reading of .212, more than four times the legal limit.
The 34-year-old was reported for drink driving, driving without lights and was issued an immediate 12-month loss of licence notice.
He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
Police have warned that on Monday, the last day of the long weekend, they will be monitoring driver behaviour and conducting random testing.
It comes after police launched Operation Safe Long Weekend on Friday at 12.01am, which will continue until midnight on Monday.
Police have monitoring the state’s roads and targeting the fatal five causes – drink and drug driving, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, dangerous driving and distraction – of crashes.