Geelong’s drunk driver numbers have returned to pre pandemic levels, police say
Drink-driving has returned to pre-pandemic levels around Geelong and there’s a concerningly common theme police are hearing from those nabbed.
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Drink driving has returned to pre pandemic levels with more than 200 people busted behind the while above the legal limit.
Geelong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Craig Stevens revealed 223 drink drivers had been nabbed over the last 12 months, up from 202 in the previous year.
Fifteen lives have also been lost during this period, up from 10 the year prior.
“Our enforcement in this division is up 10 per cent,” Sergeant Stevens said.
“It doesn’t quite equate to one a day, some days we will get several drink drivers then we might go a period with none, it’s very dependent on days of the week and what events are on.
“Since lockdowns ended, we have seen drink driving return to previous levels.
“Obviously during Covid there were less people out at licensed premises and less vehicles on the road.
“There is a big focus around our events, especially with local football finals, we allocate booze buses to events like that.”
It comes as 161 people have died on the state’s roads this year, well above the five year average of 153 lives lost.
New Victoria Police data shows young people aged 25 and under made up 20 per cent of those detected driving over the prescribed limit.
According to the Transport Accident Commission about one in five motorists killed have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.05.
Sergeant Stevens said officers “strategically positioned” booze buses across the region each month based on police intelligence and the location of key events.
“We prefer to deter people from drink driving rather than apprehending them,” he said.
Police said miscalculation of alcohol consumption had been identified as one of the most common excuses young drivers provided when they were caught over the limit.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith, of the road policing command, said young people needed to separate drinking and driving behaviours.
“Far too often we hear from drivers that they thought they’d be okay to drive after one or two drinks,” he said.
“The safest option is – if you’re going to drink, don’t drive; or if you’re going to drive, don’t drink.
“End of football season celebrations are commonly associated with social events and alcohol consumption, so if you’re planning to drink, just leave the car at home and arrange a designated driver or use alternative transport methods.”
Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said too many lives are cut short or ruined because someone made a choice to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.
“Drink driving remains a major factor in Victorian road trauma and, while the majority of people are doing the right thing, there is no excuse for those who choose to take the risk.”
Drivers aged under 26 or subject to zero blood alcohol content conditions can expect to receive an on-the-spot fine of $555 and a six-month licence disqualification for a first offence, while novice drivers will receive an on-the-spot fine of $462 and a three-month licence disqualification.
More serious drink driving offences can result in further penalties including vehicle impoundment, licence cancellation or extensive disqualification, hefty fines, and even jail time.
SOME OF GEELONG’S WORST DRINK-DRIVERS
Bradley O’Shea
Geelong man, Bradley O’Shea faced the Geelong Magistrates Court in April after pleading guilty to charges of theft and driving while under the influence.
O’Shea who has a long history of driving while drunk was pulled over by police, who noticed a “strong smell of liquor”, his bloodshot eyes and an open bottle in the console.
O’Shea told Magistrate Simon Guthrie, “alcohol has completely ruined my life” but working with the Salvation Army had been helpful.
Zachary O’Shannessy
Armstrong Creek dad, Zachary O’Shannessy faced the Geelong Magistrates Court in August last year after drunkenly crashing his car into a Leopold property.
The court heard O’Shannessy was more than five times over the legal alcohol limit when he slammed into the property’s fence on Melaluka Rd.
O’Shannessy made several bizarre attempts to flee in his damaged vehicle before police caught up to him.
He provided a breath test which returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.253.
Magistrate Jelena Popovic told O’Shannessy’s lawyer it was the highest reading she had seen in recent memory.
Barwon Heads woman six times the legal limit
A Barwon Heads woman was allegedly caught driving six times over the legal limit in November last year.
Bellarine police intercepted the 42-year-old driver after responding to reports on Sheepwash Rd late on a Saturday night.
When breath tested, Victoria Police alleged she returned a blood alcohol concentration of 0.340.
Jessica Muller
Jessica Muller was intoxicated when she crashed into a pole while trying to parallel park outside the emergency department on Ryrie Street.
She twice fell into a garden outside the hospital before “zigzagging” her way inside.
Magistrate John Bentley said at the time it was fortunate no one had died as a result of her decision to drive in such a drunken state.
“She could have killed someone. She was clearly paralytic,” Magistrate Bentley said.
Gregory Sheridan
Geelong West man, Gregory Sheridan was driving with an alcohol concentration of more than five times the legal limit when he made a dash to buy more booze.
Sheridan, who narrowly missed hitting a police vehicle at an Aberdeen intersection had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.274.
Police found a full bottle of whiskey on the passenger seat of his car.
The court heard Sheridan had previously been caught drink-driving twice, but the last of those incidents occurred in February 1991.
Cameron Taylor
Geelong landscaper, Cameron Taylor, admitted to fleeing from police after he was stopped for a breath test in Melbourne.
Police were patrolling Burke Rd, Hawthorn, when they spotted Taylor’s car drifting and changing lanes without signalling.
Officers followed the vehicle for more than a kilometre before intercepting it.
Taylor denied a request to turn off his car, before turning into the lane where the police members were standing, swerving around a parked car and driving away.
George Vallins
Former professional cyclist, George Vallins, was drunk and texting his partner when he crashed into a female motorist after failing to notice a red light signal in Fyansford.
The victim’s vehicle was pushed into a light pole, which was knocked from its foundations and into the path of oncoming traffic.
A breath test returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.226.
Vallins told police he had consumed a 375ml vodka bottle, adding that “there is no excuse” for his drink-driving.
Brett Tournier
Geelong man Brett Tournier was more than three times over the legal alcohol limit when he rear-ended a car on Princes Highway in Corio.
The drunk driver was chased by other motorists after trying to flee the scene of the crash.
A breath test showed a blood-alcohol reading of 0.164, while a check of his licence revealed it expired in May 2013.
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