Breath-testing of drivers near hotels urged by assn

Press, 4 May 1978, Page 2

Breath-testing of drivers near hotels urged by assn

PA Wellington The Hospital Boards' Association has come out strongly in favour of selective breath-testing of drivers near hotels and taverns. The board’s chairman (Dr F. W. Rutter) said yesterday that the present resources of the Ministry of Transport might not be adequate to carry out random breath tests but it was the association’s view that se'ective breath-testing in the vicinity of liquor outlets was essential to control the potential offender. Dr Rutter said that he favoured the immediate lowering of the legal blood-alco-hol level from 100 mg/100 mis of blood to 80 mg/100 mis.

Speaking to reporters after leading a Hospital Board’s Association delegation for talks with the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) to emphasise a eed for a tightening of the law relating to drinking drivers, Dr Rutter said an intolerable pressure was being put on hospital services by road accidents caused by drinking drivers.

“The number of alcoholrelated road accidents is approaching epidemic propertons,” ’ie said. The Hospital Board’s Association believed that the

public were ready to accept severe penalties for drunken drivers.

In an accompanying letter to Mr McLachlan, Dr Rutter said; ‘‘lf hospital facilities are to be more freely available to the public at large, the rate of motor accidents arising from alcohol consumption must be radically reduced. The burden being placed on our services is in some instances reaching a crisis point and immediate action is necessary.” Dr Rutter said it was widely held view that the present laws governing the holding of a driver’s licence should make it clear that it was a privilege which, if abused, would lead to the withdrawal of the licence. “In the event of conviction for an alcohol-related driving offence, it should be mandatory for the licence to be withdrawn for a limited period and in no circumstance should special employment licences be granted,” he said. In the event of a second offence, the licence should b withdrawn indefinitely until the person concerned could show evidence that , he had overcome his addiction to alcohol. There was an urgent need also for the simplification of breath-testing for suspected offenders. “In this it is suggested that testing procedures be

speeded up and that the law should not provide technical loopholes for offenders to be able to avert the course of justice.” Mr McLachlan told reporters that he had made it clear to Dr Rutter that legislation to tighten the law relating to drinking drivers would be passed through Parliament this year, but he declined to give any detail of the proposed changes except to say that he believed the general public were ready to accept “a general tightening of the law.” The Government has already made known its intention to introduce such legislation this year. Dr Rutter told reporters that Mr McLachlan had told the delegation that almost every proposal the Hospital Board’s Association had put forward was already under consideration. The Minister had pledged to introduce “firm and quick” legislation concerning the points raised by the association, he said. Asked if he believed the association’s submissions had had any effect on the Minister’s thinking. Dr Rutter said he was sure Mr McLachlan was now even more aware of the effect of drink-related accidents on hospitals. “I think we have added more weight to the argument,” he said.