Mudgee Police have confirmed extra highway patrol officers will be around town this weekend as part of the operation.

The operation will start on Thursday 12pm and run until 12pm on Sunday.

Alcohol impairments has been proven to be a leading cause of fatal crashes, and as a result the operation will target drink driving offences as well as other

irresponsible driving behaviour in the lead up to the Christmas and New Year’s driving season.

Traffic Services Branch commander and assistant commissioner John Hartley said people 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.”

With 85 people killed in the western region so far this year, western region traffic coordinator senior sergeant Mal Unicomb said police would be holding nothing back in their efforts to nab drink drivers in the region.

“We’ve had 45 more people die on western region roads this year than last year, it’s atrocious,” senior sergeant Unicomb said.

“Because of the lack of public transport in our region it’s essential people make alternative travel arrangements when they go out and drink, whether it’s arranging a designated driver or sleeping over if you’re at a party.”

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