FOR almost 30 years motorists’ ears have been left ringing with the oft-repeated statement of fact that “If you drink, then drive, you’re a bloody idiot”.
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The Transport Accident Commission’s aggressive public awareness campaign courted considerable controversy upon its launch in 1989.
But the slogan – along with other catchy refrains such as “Don’t fool yourself, speed kills”, “Wipe off 5” and “Only a little bit over? You bloody idiot” – worked.
At least to an extent.
In the five years to 1987, more than 110 drivers and motorcyclists killed each year on Victoria’s roads had a blood-alcohol reading higher than .05.
Between 2008 and 2012, this figure dropped to an average of 40 alcohol-affected motorists killed each year.
No one could pretend this is even close to a satisfactory outcome. Indeed, the Victorian government’s new Towards Zero campaign makes clear there is no acceptable number when it comes to road deaths.
Nevertheless, it equates to a lot of lives saved and a lot of families spared the wrenching pain and trauma of losing a loved one in a preventable crash.
But while drink-driving, speeding, fatigue and inattention through mobile phone use have dominated education campaigns in recent years, there is one prevalent factor that is only now starting to get the attention it so clearly deserves.
The sheer number of Bendigo motorists caught driving while under the influence of drugs – chiefly ice – is as mind-boggling as it is scary.
On the weekend police nabbed no less than 10 drivers while ice – or methamphetamine – was coursing their veins and addling their brains.
According to police, one of the offending drivers was 18 years old and had held his licence for just 17 days when he decided to risk the lives of his fellow motorists by getting behind the wheel.
The blitz comes after a staggering one-in-four drivers tested in Bendigo during the Anzac Day long weekend returned positive tests in what police described as “disgraceful” behaviour.
It is apparent that the very same focus on educating and deterring motorists from drink-driving must now also be applied to those people in our community who use drugs.
- Ross Tyson, deputy editor