Learner drivers supervised by drunk full-licence holders

A MIDDLE-AGED Adelaide woman pulled over while supervising an L-plate driver has blown three times the alcohol limit, just one of many incidents of learner drivers under the wrong influence in SA.

A MIDDLE-AGED Adelaide woman pulled over while supervising an L-plate driver has blown three times the alcohol limit.

The 44-year-old, from Munno Para, was caught at 12.30am on Sunday when the car being driven by the learner was stopped at a random breath testing station on Salisbury Highway, Salisbury.

The learner tested negative to drinking, but the woman blew 0.15 and she was charged for exceeding the alcohol limit while acting as a “qualified supervising driver’’ for a learner driver and fined $316.

The weekend’s incident was not isolated, with police figures showing a dozen supervisors were caught under the influence last financial year — ten being drunk and the others on drugs.

And in the first three months of this financial year, six supervisors were busted being drunk in the passenger seat and another tested positive to methamphetamine in the western suburbs in July.

Motor Accident Commission spokesman Michael Cornish said anyone getting in a car to supervise a learner driver while intoxicated was disgraceful and totally irresponsible.

“Notwithstanding this behaviour breaks the law, it sets a deplorable example to younger drivers on our roads,” he said.

Police have stressed it is an offence for supervising drivers to have a blood alcohol reading of 0.05 or above, or be under the influence of illicit drugs.

They said parents or other supervisors cannot assume they will not be tested because they are not behind the wheel.

“Police at any time can stop a motor vehicle on a road and subject the driver and the qualified supervising driver to an alcotest,” a police spokesman said.

“Not only is there an inability to supervise the learner driver when they are intoxicated, they are sending the message to the learner driver that it is OK to drink and drive.”

Supervising drivers must also have held a current full licence for the past two years, had no driving disqualifications during that period and not be subject to good-behaviour conditions.

They must also always be seated next to the learner at all times, including parking practise even in shopping centre car parks, according to the Transport Department.

RAA road safety manager Charles Mountain said many people who supervise learners while over the limit themselves were probably thinking they could avoid drink-driving penalties by not being behind the wheel.

“But learner drivers are not a substitute for designated drivers,’’ Mr Mountain said.

“It is also putting an unreasonable responsibility on them having to drive a drunk person and they shouldn’t have to wear that.’’