Intoxicated Drivers

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26094, 22 April 1950, Page 6

Intoxicated Drivers

The warning to motorists given in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch this week by Mr R. M. Grant, S.M., that the Court would have to consider imprisoning persons convicted of being intoxicated in charge of motor-vehicles, is to be welcomed. There have been 17 convictions for this offence in Christchurch in less than four months; and the Magistrate commented that a fine did not seem to have much effect as a deterrent. i Motorists who are unmindful of j the danger to themselves and to others of driving while under the i influence of alcohol should remem- | ber that for this offence they are | liable to imprisonment for three 1 months. Magistrates have on occasions imprisoned offenders, even for first offences, and public opinion has supported them. There are enough dangers on the road without adding to them the menace of a driver incapable of controlling his car. If he wishes to drink, he should leayp his car at home. If he takes the risk and is caught he must take the consequences. The intoxicated motorist deserves, and will receive, no sympathy from the public. The power of the Courts to suspend driving licences is also a useful deterrent; but in recent years there has been a suspicion that in too many cases licences have been restored to drivers under the Government’s prerogative of mercy. . Drivers who take the risk of being 1 convicted of intoxication should not have any reason to think that their ' licences may be restored to them i because their living depends on 1 their driving. Recognising this, the : new Attorney-General (Mr Webb) 1 earlier this year took the wise ] course of warning motorists that he 1 would be very sparing in recom- i mending the restoration of licences, t His opinion that the suspension of ) licences is a powerful deterrent r against a serious offence is shared t by the public, including motorists. I