Published Friday, 06 July, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
DRIVERS ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE ON DRINK DRIVING
Minister for Police Judy Spence has congratulated the 98.9% of drivers who passed random breath tests on Queensland roads in 2006.
“I am pleased to see the vast majority of drivers are obeying the rules when it comes to drinking and driving,” Ms Spence said.
“We have the highest rate of breath testing in Australia with police conducting 3,069,463 random tests on drivers in Queensland in 2006.
“Police conducted 1.11 tests for every licensed driver in Queensland in 2006 which is 24% above the target set by the Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee.
“Drivers are clearly getting the message that if you drink and drive you will be caught.”
Ms Spence said while the figures are encouraging there are still too many people caught drink driving on Queensland roads.
“Only 1.1% of tested drivers recorded a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, but that still means more than 34 thousand drivers were caught drink driving last year.”
“We have a zero tolerance approach to drink driving and that is why police will continue to increase the number of random breath tests on drivers.
“Alcohol is a major contributor in the cause of crashes and if more drivers act responsibly this will help reduce the road toll.”
Ms Spence said the government has introduced strict vehicle confiscation laws for drivers who repeatedly drink and drive.
“If you are caught drink driving twice in three years your car can be confiscated for 48 hours and you will have to pay for towing and storage charges on top of any penalty imposed by a court.”
“If you are caught a third time your car can be confiscated for three months and serial drink drivers can have their car permanently taken off them.”
“These tough measures are aimed at providing a further deterrent to the small number of people who put the lives of others at risk by drink driving.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287.
“I am pleased to see the vast majority of drivers are obeying the rules when it comes to drinking and driving,” Ms Spence said.
“We have the highest rate of breath testing in Australia with police conducting 3,069,463 random tests on drivers in Queensland in 2006.
“Police conducted 1.11 tests for every licensed driver in Queensland in 2006 which is 24% above the target set by the Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee.
“Drivers are clearly getting the message that if you drink and drive you will be caught.”
Ms Spence said while the figures are encouraging there are still too many people caught drink driving on Queensland roads.
“Only 1.1% of tested drivers recorded a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, but that still means more than 34 thousand drivers were caught drink driving last year.”
“We have a zero tolerance approach to drink driving and that is why police will continue to increase the number of random breath tests on drivers.
“Alcohol is a major contributor in the cause of crashes and if more drivers act responsibly this will help reduce the road toll.”
Ms Spence said the government has introduced strict vehicle confiscation laws for drivers who repeatedly drink and drive.
“If you are caught drink driving twice in three years your car can be confiscated for 48 hours and you will have to pay for towing and storage charges on top of any penalty imposed by a court.”
“If you are caught a third time your car can be confiscated for three months and serial drink drivers can have their car permanently taken off them.”
“These tough measures are aimed at providing a further deterrent to the small number of people who put the lives of others at risk by drink driving.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287.