Police are horrified after catching 15 drink-drivers in Dunedin over three nights, and warn people could be killed on the roads unless drivers' attitudes change.
Five hours after crashing his car and leaving it beside the Northern Motorway near Waitati, a 35-year-old man was located by police and recorded a breath-alcohol reading of 679mcg.
"That is a shocking result," Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said.
That driver was just one of 15 caught between 9pm on Thursday and 7am yesterday as part of Operation Expect More Testing - a campaign targeting drivers over the Christmas-New Year period.
Snr Sgt Aitken said the numbers of people caught drink-driving was horrifying, and "if we are going to continue to have those sorts of numbers over the lead-up to Christmas... someone is going to die".
Of the 15, four were women aged between 22 and 61, while the 11 men were aged between 18 and 44. Eight drivers opted for blood samples, he said.
Snr Sgt Aitken said the alcohol levels, ranging from 365mcg to 977mcg per litre of breath, were high, with several recorded following non-injury crashes.
"We are lucky that no-one has been killed or injured, and we don't want to spend the Christmas period dealing with road deaths," he said.
Drivers could expect to be tested over the Christmas and New Year period, and "if you are out celebrating and socialising and you are having a drink, don't drive - the risks are too high".
