Road Policing staff from Manawatū and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Team conducted a four-day operation last week, targeting driver behaviour and Heavy Motor Vehicle compliance across the upper Rangitikei and greater Ruapehu areas.

The operation ran over four days, from Wednesday 9 April to Saturday 12 April, with the focus on safety of road users across the region.

Across the four days, 20 checkpoints were conducted, and 7755 drivers were breath tested.

Three people blew over the legal breath alcohol limit. Two of those drivers received a $200 fine, forbidden to drive for 12 hours and had 50 demerit points added to their licence for two years. The third driver will appear before the court.

Nearly 130 infringement notices were issued during the operation, with 62 for speed, 8 for not wearing seatbelts and 2 drivers were on their cell phones. More than 50 notices were issued for other vehicle related offences.

Of the 61 heavy motor vehicles inspected, two were ordered off the road and issued with stickers, and one was not up to certificate of fitness standards.

While most drivers are doing the right thing, we are still disappointed that we’re continuing to see people putting themselves and other road users at risk.

Our aim is to prevent tragic incidents on our roads, and we make no apology for targeting dangerous driving behaviour including restraints, impairment, distractions, and speed.

- Senior Sergeant Andy Reid, Manawatū Road Policing Services Team Leader

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