Nelson Bays Police are stepping up their efforts to curb drink driving after a disappointing week on the region's roads.
Road Policing Manager Inspector Jenni Richardson said an operation by road policing staff over the weekend caught 10 drivers over the limit.
"What is really disappointing is the levels of alcohol people are recording. We had expected to get an increase in people in the 250 to 400 range but what we're seeing is breath alcohol readings in the 800s and 900s which is outrageous.
"Add to that the fact that our highest reading came from a pregnant woman with passengers in her car and the third highest reading was a woman with a young baby in the back seat and you have to wonder how long it is until an innocent life is lost."
A third woman recorded a breath alcohol reading of 440 while on her way to pick up a child.
Inspector Richardson said that over the last week there had been an unusually large number of high alcohol readings.
"It's shocking given the amount of publicity we have given to drink driving in recent weeks and combined with the fact we've made no secret that we will be out checking drivers."
She said there would be an increased Police presence on the roads in the lead up to Christmas and through the holiday period with more checkpoints planned this week.
"This really is about saving lives. The last thing my staff want to be doing is knocking on someone's door the week before Christmas and delivering terrible news of a fatality. This is completely avoidable and I urge people to intervene if they see a friend who has been drinking about to drive," she said.
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