Police target Umina and Ettalong

Police will target Ettalong and Umina in the Operation Safe Arrival campaign during the Christmas break.

Double demerit points came into effect on Friday, December 21, and apply until midnight on Tuesday, January 1.

The enforcement is designed to target excessive speed, driver fatigue, alcohol and drug impaired driving and the failure of passengers to wear seat belts.

Senior Constable Dave O'Shea of Brisbane Water Local Area Command Traffic Services said the command will be targeting locations identified where either speed or alcohol have been determined as a factor.

"Ettalong and Umina Beach as featuring reasonably predominantly in alcohol crashes with the majority of people detected coming from private homes," Senior Constable O'Shea said.

During Operation Safe Arrival last year, police from the Brisbane Water Command breath tested 2461 people.

"Of those breath tested, 61 were arrested and charged with drink driving offences, 563 infringements were issued for varying offences and a further 149 infringements issued for excessive speed," Senior Constable O'Shea said.

"Forty-seven crashes occurred over the 15-day period where 15 of those resulted in injuries to parties and three were as a result of alcohol."

To date, the state has recorded 408 fatal crashes this year compared with 433 the previous year.

Press release, 19 Dec 2007 Dave O'Shea, Brisbane Water Police