More than 140 drivers were charged with drink or drug driving during a targeted impaired driving operation conducted across the ACT last month.

Throughout December, police focused on detecting impaired drivers, conducting almost 23,000 breath and drug tests over the 31-day period.

During the operation, 64 people were charged with drink driving and 80 were charged with driving with drugs in their system. Over the past year, a total of 609 people were charged with drug driving and 614 were charged with drink driving.

A further 1005 traffic infringement notices were issued during December for other traffic offences.

Officer in Charge of Road Policing, Insp Mark Steel, said it was frustrating that despite decades of drink driving laws, some motorists continued to put themselves and others at risk.

“The belief that you won’t be caught, that it’s okay because it’s only a short trip, or that you’re only just over the limit are all poor excuses,” he said.

“The evidence is clear — impaired driving remains one of the leading contributors to collisions resulting in death and serious injury.”