Yarrawonga Police Sergeant Edward Graham said that drink driving is becoming more of an issue recently with more and more people deciding to break the law and drive themselves home after a visit to the pub.
“It’s unfortunate that people want to run the gauntlet. There really is no excuse,” Sgt Graham said.
In the past 12 months from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023, 23 infringements were distributed relating to drink driving offences, 14 offenders processed for drink driving were required to attend court, seven offenders were processed for Drug Driving with infringement notices issued and police performed seven alcohol related vehicle impounds with a total of 22 impounds being performed so far for other varying offences.
“We have so many options even in a town of this size to not drive if you choose to drink, with several taxis available and numerous courtesy buses. There is also the option to walk too if you don’t live or aren’t staying out of town,” Sgt Graham said.
“A lot of the people we have been getting that are over the limit are locals.
“Recently we have been actively patrolling after the pub closing times as locals are aware that we are not a 24-hour station so they decide to run the gauntlet and think that we won’t be around.
“To drink and drive is not a right of passage for anyone.”
Since January, Yarrawonga Police have issued over 200 preliminary notices for drink drivers with around 10 drug drivers also caught. This is a definite increase to the same time last year.
Yarrawonga Police were also part of a pilot for drug testing with the station now having the capabilities to drug test at any time.
Statistics released by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) reveal that each year around 25 people, or one in six deaths had a BAC of under 0.05.
Seventy-seven per cent of licence holders, around 2.7 million people will drive after having one to two drinks.
Around 175,000 people admit to driving when they're over 0.05.
One in six people that are breathalysed are driving while over the limit.
“For the financial year, we have conducted over 3000 Preliminary Breath Tests (PBT) with 471 just over Easter,” Sgt Graham said.
“Impounds were also up 100% this financial year.
“Police always have operations out over the long weekend but don’t think it is only around the holiday periods that police will catch you.
“Over the holiday period especially, but just as Yarrawonga continues to grow, there is more of a risk with more people on the roads which is why we want people to know that we are out there.
“Impounds were up by 100% this financial year and we have noticed a difference in behaviour since COVID.”
Just last weekend, a 61-year-old woman from Wangaratta was pulled over for a PBT on the Murray Valley Highway at Bundalong and recorded a reading of 0.057.
“We are getting out more now to catch you if you are drinking then decide to drive but we also want to be seen more,” Sgt Graham said.
“When we can, which we hope to increase in coming months, we are going to set up PBTs to get people off the road who are a risk to themselves, other motorists and pedestrians.
“We are not going to sit where you think we are going to be, so do the right thing and get a lift in some capacity or walk. Do not contemplate drink driving.”
Over the river in Mulwala, whilst no high range prescribed concentration of alcohol drivers have recently been detected, there have been incidents where damage to property and pedestrians could have resulted.
For example, a driver lost control of his vehicle in Melbourne Street, Mulwala on Wednesday, May 17 ending up on a nature strip colliding with street signs and several rubbish bins.
Mulwala Police, who attended the scene at 10.10pm, issued the 50-year-old Mulwala man with a court attendance and his license was suspended. He is to appear in Corowa Local Court on Thursday, June 29.
“Obviously it’s a concerning incident with the potential to cause serious injury, or worse, had someone or some people been on the footpath,” Mulwala Police Sergeant Gary Lewis said.
“I’m sure the person concerned is quite embarrassed about it. But drivers have to be responsible.”
On Saturday, June 3 a 19-year-old Yarrawonga male was issued an Infringement Notice in Mulwala for low range prescribed concentration of alcohol and had his license suspended for three months.
A random breath test was conducted on the teenager by Mulwala Police in Melbourne Street.
If you are choosing to have a few drinks this weekend, do yourself and others around you and don’t drink and drive.
