Orientation Week is about to begin again in the student precinct and Dunedin police have warned that people who drink and drive will be targeted in an operation being run to coincide with the event.
The campaign, Operation Intoxication, will begin on Monday and will run until March 6, targeting vehicles travelling in and out of the city centre.
Acting Sergeant Andrew Camp, of the Dunedin police strategic traffic unit, said since alcohol was a factor in almost one in three fatal crashes, police would proactively target drink-driving in the Dunedin area, especially North Dunedin, through compulsory breath-test checkpoints, random stopping, and targeting licensed premises with the message of "anywhere and anytime".
"In order to reduce alcohol-related road deaths and injury, we want to encourage people to drink responsibly and arrive safely at their destinations.
"Using a designated sober driver is one way to accomplish this," Acting Sgt Camp said.
"We ask students who are out enjoying O' Week to think responsibly about how they plan to get home before they go out drinking, and to catch a taxi or bus, or walk home with friends rather than alone.
"Getting behind the wheel after a few drinks is not a safe option and never will be," he said.
