$11.4m booze buses sidelined for more than a year: opposition

The safety of Geelong drivers is at risk because six “state-of-the-art” booze buses have been off the road for more 19 months, the state opposition says.

The safety of Geelong drivers is at risk because six “state-of-the-art” booze buses have been off the road for more 19 months, the state opposition says.

Ten booze buses funded at the 2015/16 state budget were rolled out in March 2018 but six were taken off the road due to “due to mechanical and safety faults” months later.

At the time they were launched the state government said the $11.7m fleet of alcohol and drug buses would replace the existing fleet by March 2019 and would “give police greater flexibility in targeting locations across the state.”

Shadow Police and Community Safety Minister David Southwick said two engineering firms were paid $320,000 to determine what was wrong with the fleet but a confirmed return to service date had not been set.

“Today we see a double-whammy on road safety, with fewer booze buses on the road and COVID measures restricting the number of drug and alcohol tests that can be conducted.

“This will now be the second Christmas in a row where the majority of Dan’s dodgy booze buses have been out of action, just when the Geelong community and our frontline police need them the most.

“It just beggars belief that after more than 18 months and a $320,000 quote to find out what wrong with these vehicles, we still don’t have a fix or date when they’ll be back.”

Police Minister Lisa Neville said rectification works remain ongoing on the six small booze buses – with coronavirus restrictions resulting in further delays in both the rectification works and training for members to operate the vehicles.

“While this is frustrating for everyone, Victoria Police is doing all they can to get the booze buses back on the road as soon as possible,” Ms Neville said.

“There has been no change in the number of shifts or checks conducted as a result of the smaller booze buses not being available.

“The community can be assured that police are continuing to target drink and drug driving across Geelong – to get these dangerous drivers off our roads.”

Shadow Road Safety Minister Brad Battin said the failure to get the booze buses back on the road follows an additional 34 lives lost on regional and rural roads in 2019, a 25 per cent increase on the year prior, and dangerous driving offences increasing 20 per cent in Geelong for the year ending June 2020.

“This summer is set to be an extraordinarily busy time on our roads as many families seek a regional getaway, yet Daniel Andrews failure has placed road users and regional communities in harm’s way,” Mr Battin said.

“Despite the reduced movement during COVID-19, tragically 188 Victorians have still lost their lives on our roads this year and coming out of lockdown into the high-risk Christmas period, Victorians deserve better than more of Labor’s delays, excuses and cost blow outs.”

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Originally published as $11.4m booze buses sidelined for more than a year: opposition