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PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceAssociation survey show strong supportfor lowering the drink driving limitA survey of Police Association membersshows eighty per cent (80%) now supportcalls to lower the drink drive limit.The result came from the Police Association’smembers’ survey, conductedin August by the Nielsen research company.More than 6,300 police officersand employees completed the onlinesurvey.Members were asked: “Do you supportor oppose lowering the maximum permissibleblood alcohol level to drive a motorvehicle from the current 80mg per 100 mlof blood, to 50mg per 100ml (or its breathalcoholequivalent)?” The 80% who saidthey would support the move is upfrom the sixty-two per cent (62%) supportin the Association’s 2008 members’survey.Education, discussion and debatePolice Association President GregO’Connor said the significant increasein support for the measure probablyreflected the education, discussion anddebate about the proposed measureover the last 12 to 18 months.“When members were asked the questionin our 2008 survey, a firm proposalto lower the adult drink drivelimit hadn’t been put forward. Sincethen, though, there has been a greatdeal of debate and discussion about it.“The massive increase in support, witha corresponding drop in both oppositionand ‘don’t knows’, shows policestaff – like everyone else – have had thechance to consider the evidence andmake up their minds,” he said.Not surprisingly, the survey showedeven higher support amongst Road Policingstaff, with ninety-one per cent(91%) support, rural staff with eightyfiveper cent (85%) support, and GeneralDuties Branch frontline staff, witheighty-four per cent (84%) support.Overwhelming support“This shows overwhelming supportfrom those who, along with other emergencyservices, are usually the oneswho have to deal with the carnage onour roads. Police officers believe loweringthe drink-drive limit will meanfewer alcohol-related crashes, andfewer families to whom they have tobreak the news that their loved one hasbeen killed in an avoidable tragedy,” MrO’Connor said.The survey also confirmed that seventyper cent (70%) of police want to seethe drinking age raised to 20 across theboard, with another seventeen per cent(17%) wanting it raised for off- licencealcohol purchases. Only twelve per cent(12%) wanted to see the drinking ageremain at 18. These results were almostidentical to those from the 2008 survey,reflecting what Mr O’Connor describedas “the well-established belief amongstmost police that lowering the drinkingage in 1999 has proved to be a failedexperiment.”“All I ask is the chance to provethat money can’t make mehappy.”- Spike Milligan.“People are like stained-glasswindows. They sparkle and shinewhen the sun is out, but when thedarkness sets in; their true beautyis revealed only if there is lightfrom within.”Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.“Civilisation is the progresstoward a society of privacy. Thesavage’s whole existence ispublic, ruled by the laws of histribe. Civilisation is the processof setting man free from men.”- Ayn Rand.306December 2010