'We will catch you,' police warn drink-drivers

More than 40 drink-drivers and three drug-drivers were among those caught in a booze bus sting on the Kwinana Freeway near South Perth early yesterday morning.

Acting Sen. Sgt Steve Scott said 70 traffic enforcement group officers in three booze buses tested motorists travelling south on the freeway during the seven-hour crackdown, between 1am and 8am, codenamed Operation Tangent 2.

Forty-four of the 1719 motorists breath-tested were charged with drink-driving - about 2.5 per cent of those checked. Two drivers were caught with blood alcohol levels above 0.15, while 24 had readings above 0.08.

Three of the 53 drivers tested for drugs allegedly had illicit drugs in their system.

Sen. Sgt Scott said recent trends indicated alcohol was responsible for more than 30 per cent of the deaths on the State's roads, so it was a concern that people continued to put themselves and others at risk by driving while affected by alcohol or drugs.

Sen. Sgt Scott said police would continue to target drink and drug-drivers.

"My message to members of the community who think they can engage in this type of behaviour is, 'plan ahead, don't put yourself and others at risk and if you think we won't catch you think again'," he said.

Police also charged nine motorists with driving without a licence, seized four vehicles and issued 88 infringement notices. Officers also handed out 145 cautions.

Two people died on the State's roads during the double-demerit point period, which started on Christmas Eve and ran until midnight last night.

Father of two Philip Walton, 58, died on New Year's Day when he crashed his motorcycle in Mundaring and mother of one Daniella Tucker was killed on January 4 when a car in which she was a passenger rolled west of Coolgardie.