Warning as ‘silly season’ triggers drink-driving spike
A man who blew 0.286 after crashing into a railway fence is among a group of people arrested by Blue Mountains police for drink driving this "silly season".
The Blue Mountains News
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A man who blew 0.286 after crashing into a railway fence is among a group of people arrested by Blue Mountains police for drink driving this “silly season”.
With the festive season now upon us, Blue Mountains police are warning drivers they have a zero tolerance for drink driving on our roads.
It comes as six drivers are charged with drink driving offences in 11 days on local roads.
Two allegedly returned high-range breath tests of 0.286 and 0.053 — one after crashing into a railway fence.
High-range is considered 0.15 or above.
The Blue Mountains Police Area Command’s crime manager, Detective Inspector Scott McAlpine, said local police typically charged 2.8 drivers a week for drink-driving and it was not uncommon to see a spike in drink-driving during the “silly season”.
But not for another week, at least.
“In 2017 and 2018 the highest amount of drink driving charges were recorded in December, with the second week of both being the highest for these months,” Det Insp McAlpine said.
He said none of the six drivers arrested had passengers in their vehicles, including a 48-year-old man from Bateau Bay who was detected on the Great Western Highway in Blackheath about 1.17pm last Thursday after crashing into a railway fence.
He allegedly blew 0.286 after the accident.
Others who should have thought twice before getting behind the wheel include:
- A Katoomba man, 67, with a 0.162 reading (high range) after being stopped along Katoomba St, Katoomba, about 8.20am on November 25;
- A Dulwich Hill woman, 31, stopped on the Great Western Highway, Faulconbridge, with 0.053 (low range) about 10.14pm on November 30;
- A Glenbrook woman, 45, stopped on Grahame St, Blaxland, with 0.120 (middle range) about 12.50am on November 30;
- A Lawson man, 52, stopped on Whinmoor St, Katoomba, with 0.142 (middle range) about 1.20am on November 30; and
- A Lithgow man, 60, stopped on Great Western Highway, Blackheath, with 0.063 (low range) about 11.20am on December 2.
It was this sort of behaviour that was costing lives on our roads, Det Insp McAlpine said.
“Drivers are reminded to be vigilant in their driving throughout the Christmas period,” he said.
Det Insp McAlpine said first offence drink drivers risk fines of up to $3300, 18 months jail, and an automatic three-year disqualification with immediate licence suspension (maximum disqualification is unlimited) for high range drink driving offences.
“Don’t be tempted to drink and drive as each police vehicle is capable of performing drug and alcohol tests,” Det Insp McAlpine said.
“Always have another plan to get home.”