It is also usually one of the biggest weeks in terms of apprehending motorists who return a positive result for drink driving, Mount Isa Police Acting Sergeant Kym Jackson said.

Police in Mount Isa and the surrounding district will be out in large numbers for the event.

They will be targeting all traffic related and life endangering offences including failure to wear seatbelts, using a mobile phone and drink and drug driving offences.

Acting Sergeant Jackson said police in the district would have a zero tolerance towards life endangering offences and any person caught committing these kinds of offences.

She also said offenders could expect to be dealt with accordingly.

Drink driving offences are dealt with in court and have serious consequences including loss of licence, fines and at times imprisonment. It is also a separate offence to refuse a roadside breath test when requested by police.

Police in Mount Isa district have tested more than 270 motorists in the past week.

Although three motorists returned a positive result, police were pleased and hoped this indicated the drink driving message was finally getting through.

With the hot weather and “silly season” fast approaching, Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Clem O’Regan has asked people to “have a good time, keep safe but drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive”.