The record levels of breath testing in the combined Auckland police districts has increased by 41 per cent, with more than a million tests performed so far this year, police say.
Provisional figures show that 1,028,009 breath tests were completed between January 1 and November 30, compared with 726,723 for the same period in 2023.
“These staggering numbers are a credit to our dedicated road policing teams within Tāmaki Makaurau who are out patrolling roads every day and are all focused on prevention and enforcement,” says inspector Juliet Burgess, Tāmaki Makaurau road policing manager.
“We’ve worked tirelessly alongside our road safety partners to prevent deaths and serious injuries (DSI) from happening on our roads and consequently have seen a reduction in DSI.”
Burgess says police recognise the partnership between Auckland Transport and NZTA Waka Kotahi as vital to achieving the breath test figures and underlines the efforts made to create a greater general deterrence effect.
Teresa Burnett, Auckland Transport’s transport safety general manager, says the encouraging work done between all partners highlights the commitment to road safety and acknowledged police’s efforts this year.
“We want to commend police on their impressive achievement.
“Coming into the festive season it’s doubly important that Aucklanders know they could be breath tested anytime and anywhere so that everyone can get home safely,” says Burnett.
The record numbers should serve as a reminder for all drivers leading into the summer season that officers will remain visible and conduct breath tests whenever they stop a vehicle, police say.
“Drivers can expect to see our staff at any time to deter drivers of any dangerous behaviours including driving impaired,” Burgess says.
“We’re all too familiar with the devastating results drink driving can cause and any death on the road is one too many.”
