Drunken driving in greater disfavour

Press, 3 September 1986, Page 1

Drunken driving in greater disfavour

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

In Wellington The slow but sustained hardening of public attitudes towards drunken drivers is continuing, according to a Ministry of

Transport survey. This has been interpreted by the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, as increased support for the Government’s hard line on drinking and driving.

The poll conducted by the Ministry showed a more rapid increase in awareness of Ministry law enforcement activities. The alternative practice of having a member of a social group stay sober to drive the others afterwards has gained support. Public support for random stopping has increased. There is now 61 per cent support for random stopping to identify alcohol-impaired drivers, and only 8 per cent of those polled opposed random stopping. A further 29 per cent favoured the even sterner alternative of random testing, where all drivers stopped would face an automatic breath test. The survey also showed that 75 per cent supported the 100 km/h speed limit, only 21 per cent wanting to see it lowered. Strong support was given for moves to increase the age when a person could apply for a driver’s licence. Some 77 per cent wanted to see the age limit higher than 15 years as at present. Even the youngest age-group identified in the survey (15 to 19) preferred an age limit of 16 or older. Mr Prebble said the Government was concerned about the high rate of accidents involving young drivers and the proposal for the graduated driver’s licence ought to go a long way towards improving the skills of young drivers.