By JOLENE OGLE
SHOCKING statistics from local police have highlighted Noosa’s growing problem with drink driving as Noosa Magistrates’ Court was once again packed with drink driving defendants.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Shane Raison said it was becoming all too common for more than 40 per cent of defendants at the court to be appearing on drink driving charges.
Within the last few weeks, Sgt Raison reported, of all the defendants appearing on the day, 39 per cent were charged with drink driving or drug offences, and 41.9 per cent of defendants faced similar charges the following week.
On Tuesday, another eight people faced court charged with drink driving. Blood alcohol readings ranged from 0.29 per cent to 0.180 per cent, and a staggering 0.387 per cent reading, which police will allege was returned by a 45-year-old Tewantin woman.
Sgt Raison said the increasing number of offenders was frustrating, with another 17 people due to appear in court next week to face drink driving charges.
“But, we’re taking a proactive approach to this issue,” he said.
“We’re looking at programs so we can help educate people on the risks of drink driving and the courts are helping with this,” he said.
Sgt Raison said most of the people due to appear in court on drink driving charges next week, would have attended the Road Trauma Services Safe Driving Awareness program held at Drysdale Funerals last Tuesday night.
The two-and-a-half-hour lecture focused on the impacts of drink driving on both the wider community and families affected by road trauma, with guest speakers including retired forensic officer Garry Church and people who have been directly impacted by road trauma.
Road Trauma Services QLD secretary Janet Rogers said the night was often emotional and powerful, delivering the road safety message in the most direct way possible.
“There is never a dry eye and there is a lot of emotion as people see what impact road trauma can have,” she said.
Ms Rogers said the lecture was often delivered to a packed room, but the popularity of the program is “bittersweet”, with many of the people who attend ordered by the court.
“It’s good for us because we can ram the message home, but it’s such a shame to see so many people sent to us by the courts,” she said.
Ms Rogers said she had noticed an increase in drink driving offenders attending the lectures.
“What’s going on? We’re just hoping that we can help educate drivers and make a difference in at least one person’s life,” she said.
The safe driver awareness programs are run every six weeks. Anyone can attend the lecture which is only $2 per person. The next lecture is at Caloundra Christian College on 16 September, from 6.30pm.
