Drink-drive shame for Toowoomba
Women make up 22% of offenders
TOOWOOMBA has one of the worst rates of male drinkdrive offenders in the state but women still account for more than 20% of boozy road-users.
Exclusive Queensland Police data shows the region’s cops handed out 1120 driving under the influence tickets in Toowoomba over the past two financial years, with 78 per cent – or 875 – of the charges clocked up by males.
Of the 13 major centres across the state, Toowoomba had the sixth highest rate of male offenders.
Local drivers are more likely to blow a blood–alcohol level of .05–.10.
Road trauma expert Professor Kerry Armstrong said “sociological factors” meant women were more at risk of drinking and driving now than in the past.
“The numbers are likely to be increasing because women are more likely to have access to their own money and they often live in multi-vehicle households so they are more mobile,” said the research fellow at QUT’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland.
“And part of it is that women may be inadvertently caught out early in the morning after drinking as they take kids to school or other activities.”
Toowoomba Hospital Emergency Department Nurse Unit acting manager David Frost said local hospital staff were often left to pick up the pieces after local residents decided to drink and drive.
“We encourage people to be mindful of their alcohol consumption to protect themselves and those around them from the harmful effects of alcohol abuse,” Mr Frost said.
“And if you do need to seek urgent medical attention, and you are affected by alcohol, please remember you might be sharing the ED with young children and other community members who are more than likely experiencing a stressful or traumatic event.”
Queensland Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said 25 per cent of people who died in traffic crashes over the past 10 years had an excess amount of alcohol in their blood.
“We have seen improvements over time but we also have seen that some people are not getting the message to not drink and drive,” Mr Keating said.
“The message is simple – if you are going out to have a drink, have a Plan B.”
The Queensland Government will spend $1.765 billion this financial year on alcohol, drug and mental health services across the state.