Police target drink drivers

Peel Traffic Senior Sergeant Chris Hoath has issued a reminder for drivers to be extra careful on the roads as the holiday season continues.

One message he wanted to get through to people was driver inattention, which he said caused many fatalities on WA roads.

Sen. Sgt Hoath said the problem was getting worse as drivers embraced smart phone technology.

“For us it’s about getting people safely from one location to another and being distracted on the road is our main concern,” he said.

“People have to stop using their phones while driving and even myself, I know I have that temptation so I just switch off my phone when I’m in the car.”

Sen. Sgt Hoath said he knew first-hand about the temptations involved and it was important to remove them completely.

“Put the phone away or switch it off — we are dealing with serious crashes resulting in driver fatalities and it’s got to stop,” he said.

Sen. Sgt Hoath said another big issue police would be tackling in the new year was drink-driving.

“We have an ability to put out large groups of people in booze buses and there’s been a lot of support for us,” he said.

Sen. Sgt Hoath said during a patrol in Port Kennedy last month, Peel Traffic stopped 1200 vehicles at a booze bus location.

“We are predominantly looking for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and will be taking both very seriously,” he said.