MR BRUMBY show us the stats

Gareth Trickey, Nick Higginbottom

September 04, 2008   The Herald Sun

PREMIER John Brumby has rejected calls for mandatory

drink-driver education courses for L- and P-platers.Mr Brumby

said yesterday that young drivers essentially obeyed the

stringent alcohol restrictions on their licences.

"The biggest statistical  group in terms of drink-driving is the 30-40s

and above group," he said.

"They're the ones regularly picked up by police.

"If you were going to any compulsory education of this type, you'd do

it with that age group." The Premier's comments were at odds with

those of health experts,

families of victims of drink-driving and a senior magistrate -- all of

whom believe the State Government should introduce the proposed

alcohol education courses. Deputy chief magistrate Jelena Popovic

floated the idea of alcohol

education for L- and P-plate drivers at the International Conference on
Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Brain Injury on Tuesday. She said it

was "resoundingly well accepted" by the experts at the

conference.

A typical eight-hour drink-driving course costs about $150.

But Ms Popovic said she didn't want to see young people having to

pay more to get a licence.

The chief executive of Australian Drug Foundation, John Rogerson,

said improved alcohol education in the classroom could also help

educate young people on the dangers of drink-driving.

"We support any such education, and we think the school is an

important place to do that."

Richard Prowse, whose nephew Shane Hirst, 16, and niece Abby

Hirst, 17, were killed in a horrific crash at Mildura in 2006, called on

the State Government to adopt Ms Popovic's plan.

"I fully agree with her.

There is no real training program for kids," he

said. 

WACD SAYS
    

Mr Brumby needs to provide statistics to back up his claims that

education for drink driving prior to gaining the drivers licence isn’t

needed.

He says he doesn’t support it for Learners and P.platers but he does

for 30 to 40 year olds drivers! 

Does he think these drivers just turn 30 and think; gee, I will now

become a drink driver?  

These are all the drink driving P.Platers who got away with it for the

last ten years while the government has been, and obviously still is,

ignoring the problem. 

  Drink driving courses across the State are full of P.Plate  drivers.

These courses are not working.

They are more like an attendance course and need to be investigated

as to the effectiveness of them in there current state.

They are not working. 

 This is a pro drink driving government and this is why people continue

to be killed and maimed on our roads. 

  They should be made accountable for deaths and injuries because of

their inactions. 

 It is so sad for the families who have to live with the aftermath of road trauma.