Breath tests down, Planning the key to drink-driving up safe after-ball parties
It is close to the middle of the year already and with this comes the school ball season.
While most school balls are well-organised by the schools every year, we have a small number of students that have arranged after-ball parties.
Some of these have required police attendance as they have got out of hand.
Our School Community Officers have been visiting schools in the area and have been providing advice to people who may be wanting to host an after-ball event.
I thought that I would approach this topic in case the message has not yet made it home.
If you are planning on hosting an after-ball party then there are some things that you should consider.
- Be involved in the planning with your teen – communication is the key here as you plan the party
- Know who is coming and put a limit on the number of people allowed - Stay sober - Agree on a finishing time taking into consideration any neighbours that may be affected by the party
- Arrange security or have parents on the front gate so that you are aware of who is coming and going
- If alcohol is present ensure that all the parents of attendees are aware.
- Keep the party contained within your address
- Provide substantial food - either a barbecue or sausage rolls, sandwiches etc. - Provide non-alcoholic drinks - If intoxicated people arrive consider turning them away but contact sober family members to take care of them
- Most importantly, keep the invites off social media – the sure way to have a party get out of control is to invite people via social media
Feel free to let us know if you are planning an after-ball event.
We are more than happy to discuss any issues you have and provide further advice to you, but it is also handy for us to know in advance of the address of potential parties, particularly time, date, place and anticipated numbers of attendees.
Above all, it is about keeping our kids safe throughout the night so that everyone can enjoy themselves and have positive memories about their school ball. A ‘‘concerning’’ increase in drink-driving in Auckland is due to a decrease in the number of random breath tests in the region, a report has found.
The report, commissioned by Auckland Transport and carried out by international road safety advisory Whiting Moyne, said road deaths involving alcohol in Auckland had risen by 28 per cent from 2015-2017. Meanwhile, the rate of serious injuries had risen by 31 per cent.
The report called the increase in drink-driving ‘‘most concerning’’ and outlined the need to return to more random breath tests across Auckland. Random breath testing has fallen nationwide, from three million tests being performed from 2013 to 2014 to about two million from 2016 to 2017.
In Auckland, the number of random breath tests carried out almost halved from 2013-14 to 2016-17, from 771,000 to 396,000.
The report recommended police capacity to deliver random breath tests be boosted, as well as an increase in road policing numbers.
Whiting Moyne president Eric Howard said there was a very clear link between the number of breath tests administered and drink-driving incidents.
‘‘When we’re talking about stopping drink-driving there’s two different ways of deterring people – general and specific deterrence. Random breath tests fall into that general category,’’ he said.
‘‘The fact is as the rates of random breath testing lowered in Auckland, alcohol-related fatalities and injuries increased, [and] the road policing resources for Auckland were reduced significantly.
Police national manager of road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said in a statement police were working towards preventing death and injury on the roads.
‘‘As road safety partners, our shared goal is making New Zealand roads safer,’’ he said.
‘‘Police focus is on prevention activities and enforcement of the law [and] we are in regular contact with our road safety partners to support this work.’’
The Government announced in its 2018 Budget funding for police would be increased to nearly $300 million over four years.