Drink Driving statistics/trends
- In WA in 2011/12, more than 15,000 people were booked for drink driving.
- In 2012, alcohol was a factor in 19% of fatal crashes attended by WA Police.
- In WA each year approximately 7,500 drink drivers are repeat drink drivers (representing around 30% of all drink drivers in the State). The majority are male, under 25 years of age
- Drink driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life.
- Of the drink drivers who are killed, 97 per cent are men and 64 per cent are under the age of 40.
- 111,045 people charged with drink driving in 2009
- In 2012, alcohol was a factor in 19% of fatal crashes attended by WA Police.
- In WA each year approximately 7,500 drink drivers are repeat drink drivers (representing around 30% of all drink drivers in the State). The majority are male, under 25 years of age
- Drink driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life.
- Of the drink drivers who are killed, 97 per cent are men and 64 per cent are under the age of 40.
- 111,045 people charged with drink driving in 2009
dRINK dRIVING CAMPAIGNS
There have been couple of drink driving campaigns including "Plan B" in New South Wales, The "levels" campaign in Victoria and the "towards Zero" Campaign in Western Australia
Signs of a drunk driver
- Straddling center lane or lane marker.
- Almost striking and object or vehicle. - Taking extremely wide turns. - Weaving from one side of the road to the other. - Driving on the wrong side of the road or on the shoulder. - Driving at very slow speed - at least 10 mph below the limit. - Following another car too closely. - Narrowly missing another car or object by passing too closely. - Braking erratically. - Driving without headlights. - Signaling inconsistently with what they are doing. - Stopping inappropriately in places such as at green lights and crosswalks with no pedestrians, etc. |
what to do/what not to do when you encounter a drunk driver
What to do:
- Stay far behind the suspected drunk driver. - Get out of the way and expect the unexpected. - Wear your safety belt (and make sure that any children or other passengers have their safety belts fastened as well) - It is one of your best defenses against a drunk driver. - Stop right away and look for a phone and report to the police |
What not to do:
- Do not try to pass the car! - Do not try to stop the vehicle. - Do not follow too closely. The car may stop abruptly. - Do not attempt to act in the capacity of the police. Do not try to detain or confront the driver. Call the police and let them take care of it! |