❓ The Minister for Police provides an update on the government's efforts to tackle drink-driving, highlighting increased random breath tests and improved driver behaviour, while facing interjections from the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 400Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY — DRINK-DRIVING
400. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Minister for Police:
Can the minister please update the house on the success of
the government's efforts to tackle drink-driving in Western Australia?
400. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Minister for Police:
Can the minister please update the house on the success of
the government's efforts to tackle drink-driving in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Balcatta for
his interest in road safety matters. Members in this place will be pleased to
know that last financial year, WA Police conducted 1 516 488 random breath
tests. This exceeded our target set for WA police of one million random breath
tests and surpassed the previous financial year's record number of
random breath tests of 892 751. This has come about because of a $4 million
boost to WA Police that allowed us to resource an additional 20 officers to
look after the new booze and drug buses we provided on line earlier this year
to police. I am also pleased to report that driver behaviour is improving in this
area. While from those 1.5 million tests, 14 238 drivers exceeded their limit,
there were fewer than there were the previous year. In 2007–08, 19 288
people were caught exceeding the blood alcohol legal limit when driving. There
is still clearly a lot of work to be done but this Liberal–National
government has proved that we are committed to making improvements in this
area, and I think in seeing the increase in random breath tests —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Midland! I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Thank you, Mr Speaker. Having seen the increase in the
prevalence of random breath testing, we know, and research shows us, that the
more people believe they will be caught or pulled over by the police to be
tested, the more there is a consequent improvement in driver behaviour. Drivers
view the inconvenience of losing their driver's licence and that level
of compliance —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You would know because you've lost yours, haven't
you?
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Drivers change their behaviour and decision-making processes based on the
belief they will be pulled over by police and tested. The other improvement we
made in this state was to introduce roadside disqualification for drivers who
exceed the limit of .08. Due to random breath testing we have seen an immediate
improvement in driver behaviour and people driving over the legal alcohol limit
when they get behind the wheel of a car.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Mr Speaker —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call to you order for the first time.
Ms M.M. Quirk : She
still has not answered the question
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to
order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The risks to other road users are well known to those
who choose to get behind the wheel of a car when they have had too much to
drink. The messages we are trying to get to the community is that the risk is
to not only people driving themselves and passengers in their vehicles but that
obviously road safety is a shared responsibility. We want people to take fewer
risks on the road in the interests of other road users. The other very strong
message that has been backed up by very strong legislation in this state is
that people will suffer an immediate inconvenience if they are pulled over and
they blow over .08. That immediate inconvenience is that the very next day they
will not be able to drive their children to school or drive to work because
their licence will be immediately disqualified.
I am pleased to say we have had a significant improvement in
driver behaviour and in the number of tests performed by police. I hope this
will continue. This is possible because we are putting 100 per cent of speed
and red-light camera infringements —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You're failing.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! I call you to order
for the second time. Minister, will you wind this up please?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
This is possible because of the funding going into the road trauma trust
account, which now has 100 per cent of speed and red-light camera infringements
going into it as a result of this government's commitment to road
safety.
his interest in road safety matters. Members in this place will be pleased to
know that last financial year, WA Police conducted 1 516 488 random breath
tests. This exceeded our target set for WA police of one million random breath
tests and surpassed the previous financial year's record number of
random breath tests of 892 751. This has come about because of a $4 million
boost to WA Police that allowed us to resource an additional 20 officers to
look after the new booze and drug buses we provided on line earlier this year
to police. I am also pleased to report that driver behaviour is improving in this
area. While from those 1.5 million tests, 14 238 drivers exceeded their limit,
there were fewer than there were the previous year. In 2007–08, 19 288
people were caught exceeding the blood alcohol legal limit when driving. There
is still clearly a lot of work to be done but this Liberal–National
government has proved that we are committed to making improvements in this
area, and I think in seeing the increase in random breath tests —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Midland! I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Thank you, Mr Speaker. Having seen the increase in the
prevalence of random breath testing, we know, and research shows us, that the
more people believe they will be caught or pulled over by the police to be
tested, the more there is a consequent improvement in driver behaviour. Drivers
view the inconvenience of losing their driver's licence and that level
of compliance —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You would know because you've lost yours, haven't
you?
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Drivers change their behaviour and decision-making processes based on the
belief they will be pulled over by police and tested. The other improvement we
made in this state was to introduce roadside disqualification for drivers who
exceed the limit of .08. Due to random breath testing we have seen an immediate
improvement in driver behaviour and people driving over the legal alcohol limit
when they get behind the wheel of a car.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Mr Speaker —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call to you order for the first time.
Ms M.M. Quirk : She
still has not answered the question
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to
order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The risks to other road users are well known to those
who choose to get behind the wheel of a car when they have had too much to
drink. The messages we are trying to get to the community is that the risk is
to not only people driving themselves and passengers in their vehicles but that
obviously road safety is a shared responsibility. We want people to take fewer
risks on the road in the interests of other road users. The other very strong
message that has been backed up by very strong legislation in this state is
that people will suffer an immediate inconvenience if they are pulled over and
they blow over .08. That immediate inconvenience is that the very next day they
will not be able to drive their children to school or drive to work because
their licence will be immediately disqualified.
I am pleased to say we have had a significant improvement in
driver behaviour and in the number of tests performed by police. I hope this
will continue. This is possible because we are putting 100 per cent of speed
and red-light camera infringements —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You're failing.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! I call you to order
for the second time. Minister, will you wind this up please?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
This is possible because of the funding going into the road trauma trust
account, which now has 100 per cent of speed and red-light camera infringements
going into it as a result of this government's commitment to road
safety.
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