The Press WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1969. Blood Tests At Last

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 12

The Press WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1969. Blood Tests At Last

After much debate, extensive investigations in this country, and much study of experience in other countries, New Zealand is at last about to enforce a law that compels motorists to submit to breath and blood tests if they give cause for suspicion that they are driving, or attempting to drive, under the influence of liquor. Although many people may think it should be so drawn, the new law has not been framed to prevent motorists from drinking before they drive. The moderate drinker will not fall foul of this law; even a heavy drinker will not be tested unless he betrays signs in his driving that he has not proper control of his vehicle. Although the law was introduced with the object of protecting people on the roads from the effects of alcohol on drivers, it has been constructed, and will be applied, with greater regard for justice to the individual than for justice to the community. The maximum permissible blood alcohol concentration has been fixed much higher than in other countries. Nor, in this country, is there the threat of random breath tests, regarded elsewhere as the weapon of the law most likely to discourage excessive drinking by drivers confident of their ability to drive safely—until they have an accident or commit a breach of the traffic rules.

Compulsory breath and blood tests have been thoroughly tried in other countries; and the evidence of their contribution to road safety cannot be doubted. The caution with which they are being introduced in New Zealand should ensure that they will be accepted without resentment or misunderstanding. Some drivers may still protest that the varied individual reactions to a given amount of alcohol make a universal legal limit for blood alcohol concentration unsatisfactory. In fact, it has been established that no driver is immune to the deleterious effects on his driving of a concentration of 50 or more milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his blood. The maximum permitted concentration of 100 milligrammes will ensure that no-one will be convicted when innocent. Unfortunately, it means that many will not be charged even when their driving ability has been seriously impaired. Lenient as this new and overdue law may be, it should inspire a more responsible attitude among motorists towards the privilege of holding a licence to drive—a privilege that is now qualified by an obligation to abide by a strict limit on the amount of alcohol a driver may take.