Operation Drink Drive 1 began at 12.01am from

(Thursday, February 20), and will run until 11.59pm on Saturday (February 22).

It is anticipated police will conduct more than 110,000 random breath tests (RBT) over the three days of the campaign.

Operation Drink Drive 1 involves officers from every Local Area Command across NSW, along with increased numbers of police from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

They will be conducting mobile and stationary random breath testing, as well as random drug testing and general traffic-enforcement duties.

“We will be patrolling roads right across the state, reminding motorists to drive safely and responsibly, and to obey the rules of the road,” NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant commissioner John Hartley, said.

“This includes drink driving, which is still a contributor in many fatal crashes.

“Despite everything we know about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, police are still catching about 60 motorists every day with an illegally high blood alcohol concentration.

“Some of these drivers are also speeding; others have children in the car with them; a few have been charged twice in one night.

“This is the kind of risky behaviour we are targeting during Operation Drink Drive, and if you’re foolish enough to get behind the wheel after too many drinks, we will catch you,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

Operation Drink Drive 1 will be immediately followed by Operation Saturation, a state-wide, four-week blitz on speeding drivers.

Both operations aim to reduce the incidence of road trauma, which has already claimed 57 lives in 2014 – a 50-per-cent increase on the same period last year