Despite high drink-driving rate, cops fear speed factor too

MORE than 650 drivers were charged with drink-driving on the northern beaches last year, which police say collisions in which alcohol was a factor.

Constables Elizabeth Drake and Brendan Gregory of Northern Beaches Highway Patrol conduct random breath testing on Sydney Road, Balgowlah on Easter Monday. Pic. Braden Fastier rbt logox

MORE than 650 drivers were charged with drink-driving on the northern beaches last year, which police say contributed to a lower-than-average number of collisions involving injury or fatality in which alcohol was a factor.

They say every drunk driver taken off the road makes the roads safer for other motorists.

But speeding has emerged as the biggest risk to driver safety, with speeding involved in 12.3 per cent of collisions in which people were injured or killed.

The next major factor is fatigue, which accounts for 4.6 per cent of collisions involving injury or death.

By comparison, alcohol is a factor in 3.5 per cent of such collisions.

Northern Beaches duty officer Mick Buko said drivers need to stop and think of the consequences because they will get caught if they drink and drive, and will lose their licence.

“The figure of 3.5 per cent of collisions involving alcohol is low and can be attributed to the great job the Highway Patrol and local police on the northern beaches do to detect drink drivers,” he said.

“Random breath testing is everywhere, so if you drink and drive you will be caught.

The figure of 650 for 2015 surpasses the 600-odd drink drivers caught on the northern beaches in 2014.

In the first six weeks of 2015, 150 drink drivers were caught on the northern beaches and police fear a similar number could be caught during the same period this year.

But Insp Buko said the more alarming figure is that so many drivers are still being detected speeding.

He said 12.3 per cent is a huge percentage of crashes in which speed is a factor.

“Speed is the silent deadly killer on our roads,” he said.

“With fines ranging from $112 to $2306 and the loss of demerit points, it again amazes me why people continue to exceed the speed limit and put their own lives, their family’s lives and the lives of other people on the road in danger.

“It is time people just stopped and thought about what they are doing behind the wheel of a car.

“The time for excuses has come to an end.

“If you speed, drink and drive, not wear a seatbelt, talk on a handheld mobile phone or commit any other traffic offences, be prepared that the police will issue you with a fine or, even worse, charge you and send you to court.”