Covid cuts drink-driving
THE number of drivers caught blotto behind the wheel has dropped significantly this year, but it has very little to do with motorists actually drying out.
Police figures show that between January 1 and July 31 this year 1353 motorists were caught drink-driving in the Gold Coast local government area.
This is a down almost 500 when compared with the 1846 motorists pinged for the same period last year.
Lawyers say the drop is not because people have suddenly decided to drive sober.
It is more a combination of police suspending RBTs during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and more people drinking at home due to social restrictions.
It is not saving lives because, as of September 6, 170 people had died on Queensland roads this year, 24 more than the same time last year.
“People are not drinking at places like nightclubs or pubs,” Potts Lawyers director Bill Potts said.
“They are probably drinking at home because they are probably not partying.”
Hannay Lawyers director Chris Hannay said he had noticed a small decrease in drinkdriving but an increase in drug-driving.
“People aren’t going out and getting drunk as much but people are staying home and taking drugs and then choosing to go to their friends,” he said.
Bamberry Lawyers solicitor Sam Jackson said the firm had not noticed a downturn in work.
He said that might be because during the height of the pandemic a number of drinkdriving cases were not set down for at least three months.
Those cases were only just making it to the courts now.
A Queensland Police spokesman said on average each year drink-driving caused 55 deaths and 550 serious injuries across the state.
“Police are concerned with an alarmingly high number of lives lost on our roads in 2020, particularly given the reduced road activity during COVID-19 restrictions,” he said.
“We urge all Gold Coast motorists to take road safety seriously and if you have been drinking, do not put other road users at risk by driving.
“Officers will continue to actively target and take action against drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs across the Gold Coast.”