The joy of seeing your team win the grand final could be quashed by being killed or seriously injured in a car crash, road safety authorities warned today.

Road Safety Advisory Council chair John Gledhill and Tasmania Police Traffic Co-ordinator Inspector Mark Beech-Jones said alcohol was a major cause of serious casualty crashes.

Mr Gledhill said alcohol was a factor in five of the 13 fatalities in September in the five years to September last year and in 35 of the 131 serious injuries.

Inspector Beech Jones warned there was a strong chance drivers over the 0.05 limit would be caught as Police throughout the state would be conducting random breath testing operations at different times of the day and night during the month of September.

“We don’t want to catch people drink driving. We want people to get home from football finals and their celebrations or commiserations safely,” Inspector Beech-Jones said.  Further, with the AFL Grand Final being played in the first weekend of October this year, Police would be extending their traffic operations to over that weekend also.

He said 346 people were charged with drink driving in September last year which is 4% cent higher than the monthly average of drink drivers caught.

“We did 62,163 random breath tests in September last year, which is well above the monthly average of 50,000. 

“The main reason for this is that we are ensuring that those motorists who drink and drive and then place themselves and other motorists at risk are going to be caught.”

Mr Gledhill said that although the road toll for the year to date was 19 – three fewer than last year – it was too many deaths and serious injuries.

He urged footy revelers to choose a designated driver who would drink alcohol responsibility and get their friends home safely.

“If you drink then drive you risk losing your license. As well, besides being killed or injured yourself, you could cause the death or serious injury of someone else. The risks are too great and they are not worth taking,” Mr Gledhill said.