Northern Territory Police have been out in force for National Road Safety Week with a 3 day traffic blitz across the Territory.
Operation Brentwood began at 6am on Tuesday and finished up 6am this morning. Four large scale drug and alcohol testing stations were set up across the Northern Territory along the Barkly, Victoria and Stuart Highway’s.
Over the 72 hour period the following results were recorded:
- 4060 roadside breath tests, 10 infringements issued for drink driving offences
- 1624 roadside drug tests, 16 infringements issued for drug driving offences
- 319 litres of alcohol seized and destroyed
- 179 Infringements issued for speeding
- 3583 Registration checks conducted.
Yesterday, members from Operation Brentwood positioned on the Stuart Highway South of Alice Springs intercepted a Holden Statesman containing 40 x 5 litre casks of wine. There was sufficient grounds to suggest the wine was destined for supply into remote communities and was subsequently seized for destruction. The driver is expected to be issued an NTA for liquor offences.
Superintendent Peter Malley said “Operation Brentwood was a clear message to road users across the Territory that police are out in force keeping our roads safe and ensuring everyone is driving to the conditions.
“It was pleasing to see the vast majority of drivers following the rules, but once again a small cohort continue to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol, endangering themselves and everyone around them.
“The secondary supply of alcohol into our vulnerable communities was also a focus and I commend the officers involved in the seizure from yesterday. Alcohol remains a catalyst for the high rates of domestic violence related harm and antisocial behaviour we have been seeing across the NT.”
Road users can expect to see the Traffic Unit back in force across the Territory as we move through 2023. The lives lost on the road currently sits at 4, compared to 19 at this time last year. This is a positive downward trend that we hope to see continue throughout the year. Motorists are urged to adhere to the Fatal Five safety measures to keep safe on our roads.