Hi Welcome to first blog post. My website will be up and running in a few weeks, so hopefully you stick around.
Today's Topic - Is a 0.02% Blood Alcohol Limit really safer
Today's news has included a story that we should lower the Legal Blood Alcohol level to 0.02% based on research from Sweden.
A little bit of on-line research shows that there is more to this story. In fact the report, from Sweden, says
"The conclusions reached in this study are not definitive as the following factors have not been considered:
- Cars are safer.
- Roads are safer.
- People are driving less km's.
- Fines for other bad driving behaviour, such as running red lights, have been increased.
More analysis is required, before a definitive conclusion can be reached, that the lowering of the Legal Blood Alcohol Limit is responsible for the decrease in the road toll."
So the Victorian government / police have made suggestions without either reading the full report, or they have read the full report and made their suggestions based political factors, not fact.
The problem in this day and age is that politicians pick and choose the parts of any analysis that suits them and their "political career"**.
Take the Henry Tax review as an example. The government only introduced a handful of the 138 recommendations, chief among those the Mining Super Tax, while ignoring all the recommendations that may have benefited the country but not have won votes with the public.
My recommendation, do more research, research, research, before making conclusions based on media stories.
Looking forward to hearing your comments.
David Schulze
** more to follow on politicians and their "political careers"
David, my opinion is that there are several points that are not mentioned or deliberately excluded. It's fine in theory to drop the alcohol content, if that's the theory then drop it to 0.00% - if you are realistic about it.
ReplyDeleteOther points that I want to question:
- many vehicles on Victorian Roads are unroadworthy, introduce mandatory roadworthy each year.
- if the road tolls drop then I would expect my TAC costs on registration papers to be annulled.
- speed zones and dangerous rural roads and metro roads
- lack of ability of the driver
- inferior motor vehicles introduced which are front wheel drive and once out of control, drivers cannot rectify the mishap
- unless the Police are prepared to have booze buses on every road, I don't see how they will nab drink
drivers
- the Vic Police have actually decreased their Drug/Booze bus activity in recent years
- I thought Speed Cameras were introduced to reduce the road toll? Check the figures. I believe it has increased accidents around these sites
- speed cameras are a cash cow for the Govt.
- Introduce P Plate restrictions to 1.8ltr or 2.0ltr vehicles only, not 6 cyl or V8 fuel injected cars
- limit motor vehicle speeds to Aust Road Speed Zones. Why do we need the speedo to show 260km/h? 140km/h is enough as the ability of drivers is not adequate for faster speeds.
- speed doesn't kill, stupid drivers do
thru lack of concentration and or distractions and or inability to drive properly
- some people cannot park a vehicle correctly at low speed, how on Earth can they believe that they can be in control at speed
- people's attitude whilst driving, people always in a rush and wanting to risk everything to be one spot in front, only to be held up at the next set of lights.
I could continue with many many more points of view. I shall save it for a conversation over beer tomorrow.
Drink driving doesn't kill. The inability of the driver does.
Victoria police estimate 28 lives can be saved and hundreds of people spared injuries by reducing the legal limit to .02. i tend to agree with them. alcohol impairs decsion making, reaction times, motor skills, and vision.
ReplyDeleteSheryn Courmadias
ReplyDeletethe only comment i have to make on the 0.02% Blood Alcohol is, why make it 0.02%, why not make it 0.0% and, as we all have been targeted, why not ban alcohol altogether......
who said we are becoming a nanny state???