ORANGE has made it to a new top-10 list, but it’s one the city would have preferred avoiding.
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The Canobolas Local Area Command (LAC) had the sixth highest number of motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol in the state in the past 12 months.
In the 2015-16 financial year there were 118 drivers charged and successfully prosecuted in Orange.
The 10 locations were all regional areas, highlighting drink-driving as a major issue for officers patrolling the bush.
There were eight LACs in New South Wales to record more than 100 drink-driving convictions in the same period, with motorists in Byron Bay (185), Coffs Harbour (160) and Port Macquarie (154) the worst offenders.
Dubbo, with 136 cases, topped the list in the Central West, while Albury (122), Queanbeyan (102), Goulburn (100), Griffith (97) and Armidale (95) rounded out the ten.
Canobolas LAC Chief Inspector Peter Atkins reminded motorists a Random Breath Tests (RBT) could occur “anytime and any place”.
He said both highway patrol and local police were equipped to administer RBTs to drivers regardless of the location.
“It’s unfortunate we still see a high number of drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs,” Chief Inspector Atkins said.
“If you’re planning on going out in Orange, arrange a designated driver, don’t risk drink driving and have a Plan B to get home.”
Across New South Wales police conducted 6,000,000 RBTs in the past 12 months, with an average of one driver prosecuted for every 343 tests.
The total of 18,563 charges statewide was far too many for Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith.
“We remain concerned that some drivers continue to think it is acceptable to get behind the wheel after drinking, and we will continue to target them for the safety of all road users,” acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.
“When RBT was first introduced in 1982, 1253 people died on the road, compared to 350 fatalities last year.
“Clearly education, raising awareness and more RBTs all contributed to this result, which is pleasing.”
The penalties for drink driving range from $1,100 fines and a six-month driving disqualification for low-range readings through to 18-month jail sentences for some high-range offences.
Last week it was revealed police handed out 126 infringement notices to L- and P-plate drivers in the Orange LAC, the eighth most penalised location in NSW.
Dubbo (289) and Goulburn (217) topped that list.