Ministry backs random stopping

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 2

Ministry backs random stopping

PA Wellington Scrapping random stopping checkpoints would lead to an increase in drunk driving, says the Ministry of Transport’s Deputy Chief Traffic Superintendent, Mr Henry Gore. The high-profile effort and large number of drivers stopped during the Christ-mas-New Year period at checkpoints had saved lives, he said yesterday. The fewer drunk drivers found, the more successful random stopping was considered. With blood samples taken from just 106 of 32,755 drivers stopped at random stopping checkpoints between Christmas Eve and January 3, the campaign was considered a success, said Mr Gore. Critics who said the low catch rate cast doubt on the worth of the checkpoints

overlooked the deterrent effect the effort had. “It’s rather like saying there’s no crime in New Zealand so let’s take away the police force,” said Mr Gore. “The low yield for random stopping was brought about by the very high profile it had... and it confirms that random stopping was successful.” Mr Gore said that if the restraint random stopping put on drinking and driving was removed motorists would revert to bad habits. The publicity and threat of being stopped at a checkpoint deterred motorists from drinking too much before driving. As people discussed how they had been stopped a snowball effect was created. “It has kept a lot of alcohol-impaired drivers off the road...lt must save lives.”