Operation Drink Drive 2 which started on Friday and ends at 11.59 pm on Sunday November 4.

Western Region Traffic Tactician Inspector Peter McMenamin said the “she’ll be right” mentality was relevant to many things but “but driving home after a few drinks wasn’t one of them”.

“This is shown by the 612 motorists who were detected with a low range blood alcohol reading in the state’s west during the 2017-2018 financial year,” he said.

“During Operation Drink Drive 2, motorists can expect an increased police presence on major roadways and back streets.

“The effect of alcohol on a person’s ability to drive safely is well documented but every day we are still catching motorists who put themselves and others at risk by drinking and driving.”

Police said their message was simple, if people plan to drink they must have a Plan B for transport.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Julie Middlemiss said nearly two generations of people have grown up with the dangers of drink driving.

“The dangers are well documented but police are astounded so many people still think it is okay to have one more for the road,” she said. 

There were 6331 motorists who were detected with a low range blood alcohol content reading during the 2017-2018 financial year.

“One more drink for the road can make the difference between arriving at home or arriving at a police station,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Middlemiss said. 

Bernard Carlon, Executive Director of the NSW Centre for Road Safety said while Random Breath Tests and education campaigns had reduced drink driving rates, it still remains a major cause of trauma on NSW roads especially in the country.

“Even if you’ve just had one drink your driving can be affected by alcohol,” Mr Carlon said.

“If you’re driving on a high-speed country road, the difference between life and death is just a small impairment in your reaction time or decision making.

“In 2017, 55 people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes in NSW, with 69 per cent of these fatalities in the country. This is simply unacceptable when we think of the families and communities that are affected by this tragic loss.”

During Operation Drink Drive 2 in the Western Region police district in 2017 40 people were charged with drink driving and 14,923 random breath tests were conducted.

Key statistics for the Western Policing Region during the 2017/2018 financial year