Increase In Rbt Charges

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday January 12, 1988

BRAD NORINGTON

NSW's 1987 road toll, the lowest for 24 years, has coincided with an increase in the proportion of motorists charged by police random breath testing units.

RBT statistics available to the end of November show that the number of people prosecuted for driving with illegal blood alcohol levels had risen compared with figures for the whole of 1986.

Of 1.12 million tests conducted by police to the end of November, 5,237 motorists, or 0.53 per cent of those tested, were charged.

Over the 12 months of 1986, 1.28 million tests led to 5,225 motorists, or 0.41 per cent of those tested, being charged.

A police spokesman said last year's increase probably reflected the introduction of mobile RBT units, where police in patrol cars could conduct tests in place of a fully set-up unit.

This enabled them to catch back street "sneaks" who might try to avoid RBT units set up along main roads.

Mobile testing was phased in last year and fully introduced in November after several trials.

Police are still in the middle of a month-long offensive against drunken and speeding drivers.