The ACT Government is considering naming and shaming drink drivers.
Posted on May 20, 2009 by by Cristian
There has apparently been over 1600 motorists in the ACT caught over the legal alcohol limit since July last year, which kinda shocked me, since i didnt think there was that many at all.
Mr Stanhope says he is frustrated that despite the best efforts of police, Canberrans are not getting the message.
“I’m looking for a breakthrough in cultural change,” he said.
“We simply need to address this, we can’t continue to turn a blind eye.
“We can increase penalties, there’s a whole range of things we can do. We’re at the point now of changing our processes in the Magistrates Court because of the workload that the drink driving tally is causing the court.”
so what do you think about the territory govt thinking about publishing the names of drink drivers caught on a govt website or newspaper?
do you believe it could be a deterrent??
from the abc news
32 Comments to “The ACT Government is considering naming and shaming drink drivers.”
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That’s fine in theory. In practice there is a limit and people are going to attempt to stay within it. It’s in everybody’s best interests to see that they do.
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If you beleive there is no ill effect from even small BAC levels then you ought to read this US government paper:
A Review of the Literature on the Effects of Low Doses of Alcohol on Driving-Related Skills
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/pub/Hs809028/Title.htm
Abstract: (emphasis added)
A review of the scientific literature regarding the effects of alcohol on driving-related skills was conducted. One hundred and twelve articles – from 1981 to 1997 – were reviewed.
Results were indexed by BAC and behavioral area and entered into a database. Two separate analyses were conducted. The first analysis determined the lowest BAC at which impairment is reliably present in driving-related skills. The second analysis determined the thresholds of impairment for each of twelve separate behavioral areas. It was concluded that:
Alcohol impairs some driving skills beginning with any significant departure from zero BAC. By BACs of 0.05 g/dl, the majority of the experimental studies examined reported significant impairment. By 0.08 g/dl, more than 94% of the studies reviewed exhibited skills impairment.
Specific performance skills are differentially affected by alcohol. Some skills are significantly impaired by BACs of 0.01 g/dl, while others do not show impairment until BACs of 0.06 g/dl.
Discrepancies between the reported BAC threshold of impairment within a behavioral area reflected a lack of standardization of testing methods, instruments, and measures in the studies reviewed.
All drivers are expected to experience impairment in some driving-related skills by 0.08 g/dl or less.
Of particular interesting reading is the following section – Impairment, by bevioural Areas
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/pub/Hs809028/Results.htm#Fig2
I’m sure there is also significant Australian research that would illustrate the same or similar results.
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(sorry formatting was stripped out)
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It’s not about what I believe, it’s about the current requirements and people trying to do the right thing by the law. I don’t have a problem with them changing it, but I’m saying let’s look at the practicalities of the existing situation. You’re just not hearing me.
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The current situation regarding punishments for drink-drivers is vastly inadequate.
I do not believe naming in public is wise. But it’s well-known that when you lose your licence for 6-12 months, you go to court, and get a special licence. That practice must be ceased. If that means someone loses their job, or has to slum it on public transport, so what. Perhaps that will teach people there are consequences to behaving so selfishly when they drive in an unfit state.
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Yes, there’s very much an idea that you can go to court and ‘plead your case’, and that really should be disabused. I’m all in favour of heavier penalties, coupled with preventative measures (like those that 99 has suggested). I wouldn’t advocate one without the other, though, and I certainly wouldn’t advocate ‘naming and shaming’. That won’t fix the behaviour. And if you really are after fixing the problem (and not just changing its nature, or getting ‘revenge’ on these perpetrators) then a multi-pronged approach is what is needed.
L
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Heavy fines and lose of your license for 6 to 12 months is probably the way to go, if they do it again then send them to jail “that will fix the problem” that will bring media attention and so we will all know the name of the person anyway
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