SA Police dismayed as selfish drink drivers blow up to 10 times the blood-alcohol limit
Drink-driving is one of the main causes of trauma on SA roads. But that has not stopped selfish motorists getting behind the wheel with shockingly high blood-alcohol levels. SEE THE LIST
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Selfish drivers are getting behind the wheel while up to 10 times above the blood-alcohol limit, endangering the lives of themselves and other South Australian road users.
The shocking revelation has drawn the ire of the state’s top cop, who says he is appalled at the unacceptable and inexcusable behaviour of intoxicated motorists.
Among those caught in the past year includes a driver who recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.49 – almost 10 times the 0.05 limit – in the southern suburbs during the middle of the day.
In just the past week, an unlicensed motorist returned a reading of 0.394 – almost eight times the limit – with five passengers, including a child, in his car at Port Augusta.
SA Police figures show 3775 drivers either had their licence immediately disqualified (2510) or were fined (1265) for various drink-driving offences in 2019-20.
They include 26 learner, 192 provisional and 29 probationary licence holders prohibited from driving with any concentration of blood alcohol.
A further 87 drivers were caught with a blood-alcohol reading of at least 0.08 with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle.
However, the total figures do not include those motorists who were reported or charged and subsequently required to appear before a magistrate who issued a court-imposed penalty.
Traffic Support Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Bob Gray said he was appalled at the number of drink and drug drivers on SA roads.
“These readings are unacceptable and there’s absolutely no excuse for this behaviour,” Superintendent Gray said.
“No individual can justify getting behind the wheel while drunk or on drugs. There’s no way someone can make sense of that.
“If you take drugs and/or drink drive, you need to accept that your actions are selfish and you’re endangering not only your life but the lives of others.”
The police figures show the highest blood-alcohol level recorded in recent years was 0.50 – 10 times the limit – in Adelaide’s southern suburbs in October 2018.
Drug and Alcohol Services SA states a blood-alcohol concentration greater than 0.30 is potentially life-threatening and enough to induce a coma or cause death.
RAA safety and infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said research showed 25 per cent of drivers and riders killed across Australia had a blood-alcohol level above 0.05.
“This is because alcohol impairs the skills – such as reaction times and judging speed and distance – which are critical to safe driving,” Mr Mountain said.
“The higher the concentration of alcohol in your system the more these critical skills are impaired, which puts you, your passengers and all other road users at grave risk.
“That’s why it’s important that if you intend to drink you make transport arrangements that mean you don’t have to, or won’t, be tempted to drive.”
Police Minister Vincent Tarzia said: “There is absolutely no excuse when it comes to drink driving. Too often it ends with South Australians losing family members.
“Drink driving is one of our fatal five and it’s absolutely vital the message gets through to South Australians – drink drive and you will get caught,” he said.
Originally published as SA Police dismayed as selfish drink drivers blow up to 10 times the blood-alcohol limit