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Australian Cops Launch Random Breath Test Operation

In an effort to put the brakes on drunken driving in Australia, police are going to launch a three-day operation to randomly test the blood-alcohol levels of motorists.

Cops will start the operation on Wednesday at midnight in New South Wales and will extend it through Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Although the operation doesn't cover the entire weekend, Acting Chief Superintendent Dave Evans advised motorists not to take the risk of drinking and driving on Sunday morning either as they still might be caught.

"I want the motoring public to understand that RBTs (random breath tests) will be done on Sunday as it will be on Monday, as it will be on Tuesday," Evans said.

As a matter of fact, the police operation goes hand in hand with an anti drink-driving advertising campaign. To make sure motorists understood the message, cops will be patrolling major roads as well as suburban streets in New South Wales.

"The message is simple - if you drink, don't drive,"  NSW Police Minister Tony Kelly told reporters. "One silly moment can then make a lifetime of tragedy for a family," he added.

Because drunken drivers were involved in 20 percent of all fatal accidents,  cops want to make motorists realize how incredibly dangerous it is to drink and then get behind the wheel.

What's more, a similar operation was initiated by the Australian cops last year. During the routine checks, 91,788 drivers were asked to take a breath tests and 490 were charged with drunken driving.

Certainly, Australian cops' initiatives are praiseworthy but we can not refrain from asking whether this kind of operation wouldn't have been more successful if drivers hadn't been informed about these random breath tests. Knowing that they might be busted if they drink and drive this week, they probably won't take the risk.
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