Operation Angove wraps up across the Territory

As the silly season’s road safety campaign, Operation Angove, wraps up, NT Police assure the public they won’t be “pulling up stumps” yet. Read how Territory road users performed this festive season.

The silly season’s road safety campaign Operation Angove has wrapped up, but police assert this does not mean they will be “pulling up stumps” yet.

Operation Angove was launched on December 12, with NT Police promising to be “anywhere and everywhere”.

The road safety campaign involved high visibility road policing and expanded RBTs across the Territory.

Territorians may have noticed more police on the roads this festive season. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Over the three-week period, Operation Angove set up 97 random breath test locations and conducted more than 12,600 random breath tests, according to NT Police.

NT Police claimed they caught 83 drivers over the legal limit and 44 tested positive for drug driving.

Additionally, NT Police reported more than 65,000 speed camera checks were conducted with 2137 traffic infringement notices issued.

NT Police said they caught 83 drivers over the limit throughout Operation Angove. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“Overall Territorians were well behaved on the roads, with the exception of a disappointing few,” Superintendent Peter Dash said.

“While those who tested positive to alcohol or other drugs were in the minority, it only takes one drunk or drug affected driver to cause a devastating crash.”

The focus on drunk and drug affected drivers follows a shocking year on Territory roads in which 60 people lost their lives.

NT Police said alcohol and drugs were a factor in the majority of those fatalities.

“Seventy-five per cent of fatalities on Territory roads this year have involved alcohol and drugs,” Superintendent Rick Magree told this masthead.

Although NT Police announced Operation Angove had “wrapped up”, they reminded Territorians to drive safely and be assured police would still be on the roads.

“Don’t speed, manage fatigue, eliminate distractions, wear a seatbelt, and never get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Superintendent Dash said.

“While Operation Angove has wrapped up the public can rest assured, we won’t be pulling up stumps.

“The Northern Territory Police Force is committed to decreasing road trauma, so you will continue to see extra police on our roads.”