With this year’s road toll climbing well above last year’s record low of 386, motorists can expect a formidable police presence on the roads to address the concerning rise in fatal crashes.

The operation will begin at 12.01am on Thursday and run until 11.59am Sunday.

With alcohol impairment proven to be a leading cause of fatal crashes, the operation will target drink-driving offences as well as other irresponsible driving behaviour in the lead up to the busy Christmas and New Years’ driving season.

Commander of Traffic Services Branch , Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said driver need to be responsible for their own actions when getting behind the wheel.

“There are no excuses. A car can be a deadly weapon and people who drive when drunk risk the lives of not only themselves but other road-users,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

“It is an extraordinarily selfish thing to do, you are risking your own safety and that of others.”

During last year’s operation, police conducted 111,423 breath tests with 469 charges laid for drink-driving offences.

Particular attention will be paid to certain problem areas in Sydney, which repeatedly record a high number of Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA) offences.

At the top of this list is Northern Beaches Local Area Command (LAC), which had more PCA charges in 2008 than any other LAC in the metropolitan region. With 589 offences recorded last year, it was followed by Botany Bay LAC with 499 charges and Sutherland LAC with 452.

The Northern Beaches LAC also has the highest number of offences so far in 2009, and will come under particular scrutiny by police involved in the operation.

Other Local Area Commands, such as Kuring Gai and Fairfield, which have had a significant increase in PCA offences this year, will also be targeted by police.

“The message is clear. There is no where to hide from us if you plan to drink and drive. Driving whilst drunk is a crime and if you do it, you’re a criminal. You will be locked up,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.