SA Police conduct more than 3600 drug and alcohol tests, despite booze bus suspension
Less than three weeks ago, SA Police suspended static RBT stations because of coronavirus, but statistics show officers are still nabbing foolish drivers in droves.
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SA Police have busted more than 200 motorists under the influence of drugs and alcohol since they suspended booze buses nearly three weeks ago amid coronavirus fears.
And, at least 72 people have been handed on-the-spot disqualifications, while 165 vehicles were impounded
The officer in charge of traffic, Superintendent Bob Gray, described the results as “extremely disappointing” after revealing more than 3600 drug and alcohol tests have been conducted since March 17.
These tests have largely been done by officers in patrol cars while roadblock testing stations, colloquially known as “booze buses”, remain suspended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Superintendent Gray told The Advertiser the number of tests have “diminished” since the suspension, but foolish road users are still being caught in droves.
“It shows that within a two-week period, numerous people have made a decision to not only risk their own lives, but selfishly risk the lives of other road users.
“The message clearly is, don’t think it’s safe to drink and drug drive, because every police vehicle can do mobile random testing … we will stop you and we will enforce against you.”
The results come as police also reveal that more than half of all fatal crashes this year have been a result of distraction. Five deaths were due to people not wearing a fitted seatbelt.
Superintendent Gray said: “I don’t think people understand the gravity of the effect that it has when a person loses their lives on our roads.
“It can absolutely destroy families.”
Thirty-two people have died on our roads this year, compared with 31 at the same time in 2019, as fears mount we could be on track for another horror twelve months.
2019 was the most horrific year on SA roads in recent times, with 114 people losing their lives.
Superintendent Gray said fewer vehicles are moving around the state during the coronavirus pandemic, but complacency kills.
“If you have to travel in a vehicle on South Australian roads, please don’t be complacent by thinking there will be less traffic on the road.
“Roads don’t kill people, people kill people.”
The coronavirus pandemic has also had a direct impact on the number of break-ins.
Since the widespread closures of Adelaide businesses on March 16, there have been at least 290 break-ins at non-residential properties.
This is compared with 208 break-ins during the first two weeks of March – a 26 per cent increase. Police yesterday issued security advice to business owners following 13 separate break-ins at businesses in the Blackwood area from Thursday 19 March to Friday March 27.
Alyce Brand, owner of Blackwood salon Alyce’s Fringes said the thefts were a shock to the area.
Ms Brand’s salon was robbed in the early hours of Monday, and thieves trashed the store before stealing the float from the till.
“After everything with hairdressers not knowing whether we’re going to close it’s just not what we needed,” Ms Brand said.
“I was a bit numb to it … with everything else going on, it was the cherry on the top.”
She said the thieves took advantage of quiet streets in the area.
“There’s not a lot of traffic around here because people are trying to do the right thing and stay home.”
Megan Mitchell, owner of Blackwood cafe The Perfect Note had an attempted break-in over the same period. The thieves stole plants and baskets from the front of the shop after failing to get into the store.
“It was a relief, especially with what’s going on,” Ms Mitchell said.
The cafe is offering takeaway orders but is quiet since having to close dine-in service.
Ms Mitchell has noticed an increase of different activity since venues closed in the area, she said.
“We’ve come in some mornings and there has been beer bottles in the carpark.”
Conversely, as residents spend more time indoors, the number of residential break-ins over the last two weeks has reduced by seven per cent.
Extra police resources were deployed on March 10 to tackle the rising number of trespasses and theft in “Operation Hurricane 2”.