Drinking alcohol and then driving affects decision-making, reaction times, concentration, balance and alertness. It can also give a driver a false sense of confidence, which may encourage risk-taking behaviour.
Yet here is a sobering fact – alcohol-related fatal crashes cost the Western Australian community in excess of $235 million each year. The hospital and rehabilitation costs of alcohol-related crashes where people are seriously injured are even higher (Office of Road Safety).
Did you know that with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05, the risk of being involved in a crash doubles? With a BAC of 0.08, you are 7 times more likely to crash and 25 times more likely with a BAC of 0.15 (Office of Road Safety).
The message is simple - if you plan to drink, plan not to drive.
- Arrange a skipper
- Ask someone to collect you
- Call a cab
- Take public transport
- Stay overnight.
The RAC in Queensland recommends the following suggestions as initiatives to reduce the number of fatalities on our roads due to drink driving.
- Further enhance community education on alcohol intake and BAC and promote alternatives to drinking and driving – understanding what a standard drink is and planning to drink at venues serviced by other transport options and/or designated driver programs.
- Improve alternative transport options in rural and remote communities – courtesy buses and promote designated driver programs.
- Implement anti-drink driving initiatives directed towards repeat offenders – rehabilitation programs with assessment prior to re-licensing and alcohol ignition interlocks.
- Encourage the hospitality industry to become more responsible for their patrons – through serving alcohol responsibly and not breaking liquor licensing laws by serving alcohol to the point of intoxication; providing designated driver schemes and complimentary/alternative transport services to help reduce the incidence of drink driving and drink walking in conjunction with transport providers, local governments, and community agencies.
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