Police have been left astounded by the number of drink and drug drivers during Operation Superloop Adelaide 500.
A total of 7,601 alcotests were conducted, and despite repeated public warnings across multiple platforms, there were still 43 positive results. All 43 persons detected resided in South Australia.
One of the positive results included a 41-year-old man from O’Halloran Hill who returned a reading of 0.339.
Among the other offenders was a 21-year-old Novar Gardens woman who returned a reading of 0.221, and a 64-year-old North Adelaide man returned a reading of 0.124.
Police also caught a 44-year-old man from Nairne who had a 6-year-old in their car when they returned a reading of 0.105.
Additionally, 352 drug tests were conducted with 24 positive detections, including 19 people who were driving with Methamphetamine in their system, and five with THC in their system.
These drivers included 22 men and two women with ages ranging from 21 to 59.
Running from Thursday 20 February until Sunday 23 February, Operation Superloop Adelaide 500 was a proactive response to the large crowds in town for the V8 motorsport event.
As a result, there was an increase in visible police presence across the city, along with multiple road closures.
The Operation Superloop Adelaide 500 results coincide with the recent launch of Operation Safe Speed, which aims to reduce fatality, serious injury and casualty crashes on our roads by deterring people from speeding.
It began at 12:01am on Monday 24 February and will end at midnight on Thursday 27 February.
Superintendent Bob Gray, Officer in Charge of the Traffic Services Branch, believes the state wide operation is the ideal opportunity for the public to change their behaviour.
“These recent results are absolutely appalling, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
“And this isn’t just one offender, it’s multiple across all different age groups and it’s utterly unacceptable.
“Our position is very clear: Drink or drug driving will never be tolerated by police.
“But motorists now have an opportunity to do better. We caught these people during our last operation and we will catch you if you make the wrong choice behind the wheel during our latest one.
“Operation Safe Speed is the time for people to reassess their driver behaviour and implement any changes if needed.
“Police can’t create significant change alone, so we need people to make better choices.”
