http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/03/22/3659_ntnews.html

A MOTORIST allegedly caught running a red light while five times over the legal limit was "blind'', a top Territory cop said yesterday.

Road Safety Superintendent Bob Rennie (pictured) said the 30-year-old man blew a lethal .297 per cent.

"That's blind,'' he said. "I'm surprised he could even see the road -- it would have been a blur.

"He must have had a pretty big night.''

And to make matters worse, police said the man did not hold a drivers licence, was spotted driving erratically all over the road and jumped a red light.

He was pulled over and arrested on McMillans Rd in Moil in Darwin's northern suburbs about 8am yesterday after a member of the public reported his driving behaviour to the police.

Supt Rennie said it is well known that drinking before driving increases the chances of crashing.

"Alcohol affects decision-making, reaction times, speed and distance judgements, concentration and perception, balance and alertness,'' he said.

The alleged drunk driver was one of 16 intoxicated people found behind the wheel on the first night of the five-day NT Easter road safety campaign.

Of the drink-drivers, two had exceeded .15 per cent, eight blew higher than .08 per cent and four were more than .05 per cent.

A further two people, who were on a provisional licence restricting them to have a zero blood alcohol reading, were also charged afterbeing found with alcohol in their system.

Supt Rennie said the Easter campaign had proved a success on the first night with:

FIFTEEN motorists caught speeding; not including fixed speed cameras.

SIX fined for not wearing a seatbelt;

ONE driver caught running a red light.

THREE vehicles deemed unregistered or uninsured, and a further 11 defective vehicles.

Supt Rennie said sevenarrests were made and 28 infringement noticeswere issued.

He said it appeared the drink-driving message may be getting through to most motorists, with 16 drivers from 906 pulled over at 33 RBT stations Territory-wide found to be underthe influence.

Drunk drivers should be reported to police on 131444.

"You don't want it to be that you see them and just ignore it, then hear on the news the next day that some mother and her two young children have been killed by a drunk driver, and you are left to wander if that's the guy you didn't report.''  Supt Rennie said.

These type of driving offences are not confined to the Easter period. So why doesn't the government have an all year round "easter campaign"?? This might actually start to make a difference to the NT's ballooning road toll. If any governmet minister reads this, why don't you just come out and admit that your government got it wrong after the task farce!!  You MIGHT just earn a snippet of respect from the electorate. Remember that there is an election soon!!! And your performance in the road safety arena is abysmal!!