Drivers Defying Rbt

Sun Herald

Sunday January 1, 1989

By JANE SOUTHWARD Health Reporter

AN astonishing 60 per cent of NSW drinkers knowingly risked random breath tests and drove while over the .05 limit during the past year, an NRMA survey indicates.

The poll, conducted among club drinkers, calls into serious question the success of government drink-driving campaigns.

And it prompted NSW Police Minister Ted Pickering to warn yesterday against"complacency" in the fight to keep alcohol-affected drivers off the road.

One in 10 of drink drivers surveyed even said they believed that drinking alcohol did not affect their driving ability.

Only 19 per cent reported that they had never driven when they thought they were over .05.

The NRMA surveyed 200 patrons of 23 clubs in Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra in the lead up to Christmas.

Asked whether they had ever driven thinking they were over the limit, 60 per cent admitted to driving, 16 per cent of them many times in the past year, 34 per cent sometimes, 8 per cent not in the past year, and 2 per cent did not specify when.

Asked why they drove after drinking, 10 per cent said they didn't get affected by alcohol, 13 per cent said taxis were unavailable or too expensive, 46 per cent said they didn't drink too much, 20 per cent said there was no public transport, and 27 per cent said they preferred to drive.

Asked whether they agreed with random breath testing of motorists in NSW, 74 per cent of club patrons said they agreed with RBT.

NSW Police Minister Ted Pickering told The Sun-Herald the survey and police statistics indicated people had become complacent about drink driving.

He said more people had been charged with drink driving in 1988 than in 1986 and 1987.

So far 503 people have been charged with drink driving between December 24 and 30, compared with 324 charges between December 24 and January 3 at Christmas 1987, and 337 charges at Christmas 1986.

"The fact that we've caught so many people this year is an indication that people are starting to forget their responsibilities," Mr Pickering said.

Random breath testing had increased, with 74,189 people tested between Christmas Eve and last Friday, compared with 55,600 tests between December 24 and January 3 in 1987.

Mr Pickering said there was no need for more random breath testing units. More funds for television advertisements could help raise public awareness.

Mr Neville Guse, a Newcastle man who founded Stay Alive, Don't Drink and Drive (SADAD) after his 18-year-old daughter died in a drink driving accident in 1987, said: "If the Government doesn't do something we're going to end up with a terrible loss of life."

Mr Guse wants tougher penalties for people who are charged with drink driving and school education programs.