Noela leads fight against drink-drivers | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton
Noela leads fight against drink-drivers
IT'S drink-drivers like Carrie McGuire who just aren't getting the message.
Noela Walls has tried to change the perception of drink-drivers for 16 years.
This week she said motorists seemed more afraid of getting caught than willing to admit that what they were doing was dangerous.
The Under the Limit drink-driving program state co-ordinator said some drink-drivers, like McGuire, simply misjudged how much they had to drink, while others had a blatant disregard for the law and road safety.
In Rockhampton Magistrates Court this week, McGuire, 23, said she drove because she was more sober than her friends and thought she would be okay.
It was 3.40am on June 27 and she had consumed a few rum and cola “throw downs” and one beer.
When she was caught on Dean Street her reading showed a blood alcohol content of 0.115%.
After pleading guilty, McGuire was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $1000.
At the court's discretion, offenders like McGuire could be referred to complete the Under the Limit drink driving program.
Ms Walls said 8000 people had completed the program in Queensland since 1997 and there had been a 55% reduction in repeat drink-drivers.
She said the program was designed for motorists to analyse their alcohol consumption and develop strategies on how to not re-offend.
Strategies like how to get home safe, avoiding the shout and peer pressure is taught.
Ms Walls said they were all strategies that everyone could and should practise.
Central Queensland was the first area to trial the Under the Limit program which has since been adopted across the state.
It's an 11-week program delivered by TAFE, but is very much a joint initiative.
The program also won the Queensland Safer Communities Award last year.
CQ regional traffic co-ordinator Inspector Mike Curtin yesterday said in just six months 515 drink-drivers had been caught on Rockhampton streets.
The most recent was on Tuesday - a 37-year-old man was nabbed with a reading of 0.182.
And last Thursday a 44-year-old Berserker man was caught driving while more than four times the legal alcohol limit in Wandal.
Inspector Curtin said these drivers were overtly and blatantly risking their lives and the lives of others.
DRINK DRIVING STATS• Police have charged 515 drink drivers in the Rockhampton district in the last six months
• 134 of those were major readings of 0.15 or higher or drivers failing to provide a breath analysis
• On Tuesday a 37-year-old Frenchville man was caught driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.182.
• On Saturday a 47-year-old Rockhampton man had a reading of 0.172 as well as driving unlicensed and unregistered.
• Last Thursday a 44-year-old Berserker man was caught more than four times the legal limit in Goodsall Street, with a blood alcohol content of 0.218.
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