What is the point, I thought. Police would catch more people on Friday and Saturday nights, right?
Well, not necessarily.
I pulled into the station, set up off Goulburn Valley Hwy at Kialla near The News office, and was soon on my way back to work.
But as I reflected on it, the idea of random breath testing sites popping up anywhere, and anytime, is actually a really obvious and sensible thing.
Whether or not police caught any drink-drivers on this occasion is probably irrelevant in the overall context.
It is all about the message that it sends to road users.
It gives the message to drivers that it does not matter what day — or time of day — it is, if they choose to take a risk, there is a good chance they will be caught.
Police cannot possibly have a presence on every major highway or connecting road, but they could be just around the corner.
For police on this occasion, it was an opportunity to increase their visibility on the roads and to try and educate the public on road safety.
It came after a long weekend where 78 motorists in the region were picked up for a range of driving offences, including 50 alleged to be speeding and seven alleged drink-drivers.
The number of lives already lost on Goulburn Valley roads this year was another factor for the proactive policing.
Five people have died on the region’s roads this year, already more than the four who lost their lives last year.
Like everyone in the community, police would be hoping there is no more.
Cameron Whiteley is editor at The News.
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