Police fined 60 L-platers for drink or drug-driving last year with numbers caught on ice at record levels
POLICE fined 60 L-platers for drink or drug-driving last year as the number caught driving high on ice reached an alarming level.
- 50 caught drink, drug driving on SA roads on Australia Day
- Car bursts in flames after drink-driving L-plater crashes into tree
- Learner drivers supervised by drunk full-licence holders
POLICE fined 60 L-platers for drink or drug-driving last year as the number caught driving high on ice reached an alarming level.
And more learner driver supervisors were detected under the influence of drugs than alcohol, according to latest police figures.
The revelation has prompted renewed warnings from authorities that road safety is not immune to the “major issue” of drug use in society.
Police figures show 47 learner drivers were fined for drug-driving — including 18 for ice — and 13 for drink-driving in 2016. This is compared with five years ago, when 31 learner drivers were fined for drug-driving — including six for ice — and 30 for drink-driving.
The Motor Accident Commission said it was disappointing that any motorist would choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, particularly novice drivers still acquiring the skills to control a vehicle on the road.
Learner drivers are not allowed to have any alcohol or drugs in their system and, if caught, face a minimum $401 fine and an immediate loss of licence.
Motor Accident Commission acting general manager Matthew Hanton said it was “extremely concerning’’ that so many young drivers “knowingly chose to put themselves and innocent road users at risk’’ of injury or death.
Mr Hanton said learner drivers were showing the same increased likelihood of drug-driving as older drivers.
“This highlights that drug use in society is a major issue and road safety is not immune,’’ he said.
Police last year also caught 11 people under the influence of either alcohol or drugs while acting as a supervisor for a learner driver. In one incident, a supervisor was caught with ice in their system at 9am while, in a separate incident, another blew 0.171 — or more than three times the limit for a licensed driver.
In the most recent publicised incident involving a learner driver, officers found a Holden Astra, displaying “L” plates, which had hit a tree and burst into flames at Hawthorn on March 8.
Police said the 18-year-old driver had fled on foot but was later found at a Westbourne Park house, where he returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.045.
He was reported for breaching his learner conditions and driving without due care and will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.