The 111 Files: Plan safe return from night out

Sergeant Andrew Lynch. Photo / File

The Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG) is based in Rotorua and is part of a larger group of road-policing staff who focus on keeping our roads safe.

The TAG's role is to conduct checkpoints designed to prevent and apprehend intoxicated motorists. TAG staff work out of a mobile police station known as the "Booze Bus".

The bus is set up as a mobile resource that can process anyone, anywhere, anytime. This allows us to deal with an intoxicated driver from detection, through the entire process to issuing a summons to appear in court.

Apprehension is the easy part of the process, prevention is where we need to focus our energies. When most people go out for an evening, they plan who they are going out with and what they are going to do. They also need to consider how they are going to get home and have an alternative if the plan falls over.

Rotorua is well serviced with a great taxi service and other alternative means of getting you home.

Adhering to alcohol limits for people under 20 is easy - it is zero. This means no alcohol whatsoever. People who are over 20 years are entitled to have a couple of standard alcohol drinks prior to driving. However, I strongly urge that if you intend to have a few drinks don't drive as the probability of getting caught is high.

An excuse we encounter on a daily basis, in relation to motorists breaching their driver licences, is that they are the sober driver. This is a poor excuse. It will not prevent you being processed or issued with the appropriate infringement notice.

Motorists who hold either a learner or restricted licence don't have the experience to be in charge of a vehicle with intoxicated passengers. When a learner or restricted driver is breaching their licence conditions, and being the so-called sober driver, it simply means that this carload of drunks are unable to plan. Their actions put not only themselves at risk but also other motorists.

Rotorua police and Rotorua District Council are working together with a Road Safety Youth Expo next year, which has evening sessions catering for parents and caregivers of young drivers. The expo is about making the right choice and illustrates the results of poor choices.

Another event run between police, council and supported by our local Rotary is Driver Directions, a course designed to improve the confidence and ability of learner and restricted licence holders. The course is held in Taupo and the young person must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For more details please contact the road safety co-ordinator at the council.

For more information on alcohol issues please visit www.alcohol.org.nz and www.nzta.govt.nz.

Sergeant Andrew Lynch is from the Bay of Plenty Traffic Alcohol Group.