More breath tests and more offenders

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 14

More breath tests and more offenders

The community will find only small consolation in the Ministry of Transport s annual report, " Breath Tests in New Zealand More drivers were tested in 1974 than in 1973. more were charged, and more were convicted More drivers than in the previous vear were found to be unfit to drive in every age group from 15 to 65. But at least the courts showed a greater readiness to use penalties to persuade people of the seriousness of the offence of driving after drinking too much More drivers were disqualified and the disqualifications tended to be for longer periods Nearly half of those convicted were disqualified for’a year or more. Higher fines were imposed and the number of drivers who were imorisoned increased from 1048 to 1450. The number sent to prison for more than a month increased from 86 to 154 The argument that penalties do not deter drivers from excessive drinking can be tested only be penalties which truly reflect the seriousness of the offence During 1974. law enforcement officers could require breath tests only from drivers who had already drawn attention to themselves by their driving Under the amended law. a test may be required from any driver who gives an officer reasonable cause to suspect that he has been drinking That still does not go far enough Of 11.474 people given tests last year. 7493 were subsequently convicted The figures suggest many more drivers who were unfit to drive must have escaped detection The likelihood of detection is as important as the severity of penalties and the argument in favour of random breath tests must be acknowledged. Two other matters for public concern arise in the report More offences were detected between 10 p.m. and 11 p m. than in any other hour of the day; nearh half of all offences occurred between 9 p.m and’midnight The connection with the closing time of hotels and licensed clubs is beyond dispute The age of many offenders is even more disturbing. Nearly a quarter of those tested were under the age of 20 While the levels of alcohol detected in this group of drivers tended to be lower than those of older offender' the figures draw attention to the < ase with which those who are 100 young to drink law full' m bars can acquire alcohol The number of voting drunk' on the road' would surely be worse if the legal drinking age were lowered The worst offenders of all were those aged betwen 20 and 25 The figures suggest much more effort should be made bv school' and parents to teach youngsters about tb» danger' of drinking and driving In spite of the toll of death and injuries from road accidents, and in spite of the connection between excessive drinking and road accidents, many people obviously still refuse to take seriously the offence of driving after excessive drinking Detection of offenders and tough penalties are important in any attempts to make the roads safer for everyone Nothing short of a significant change m the community’s attitudes towards drinking and driving is likely to bring a lasting fmorovement Hew such a Change might be effected remains oner to doubt Since the figures for the report were gathered the Ministry of Transport has conducted an expensive oublicity campaign to alert drivers to the dangers of liquor So far no evidence has come to light that the campaign had anv lasting effect Discouraging as this must be to the Ministry, ♦he search must go on for ways of changing the attitudes of drinkers.