Hi folks,
True to form motoring groups such as the AA (founded in 1905
especially to aid motorists to evade speed traps) are
opposing calls for the police to have powers to carry out
random breath tests. They argue this will be an inefficient
way of catching drink drivers, totally ignoring the fact
that the possibility of being caught by a reandom test will
probabaly be a very good way of deterring them in the first
place. Even more worringly it seems the 'Government' (I use
the term loosely) also seem intent on giving drunken drivers
a 'sporting chance' of getting away with it. Until they kill
somone that
is. (Lets not forget these are the same jokers who thought
that giving schools the power to randomly test pupils
for drugs is a good idea...).
Independent. 24 May 2004 Motoring groups oppose calls
for random drink-driving tests By Tom Whitehead and
Emily Pennink
Motoring groups backed Home Office opposition to European
pressure for random breath testing yesterday.
The European Commission wants random tests across its member
states to cut drink-driving and boost road safety.
The president of the European Traffic Police Network
(Tispol) warned that the Commission would attempt to make
its recommendation a directive if it is not followed.
But the Home Office is resisting, claiming such tests are
inefficient and not an effective policing method compared to
specific targeting of suspects.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said:
"Random tests are not the most effective way of catching
drink drivers. They [the police] might have to stop 1,000
motorists to catch five or 10, whereas if they target 100
people they might catch 100."
Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA Motoring
Trust, said: "How do you impose random breath tests on
someone? Is a chief constable going to be told he must
conduct 20 tests this month or he is defective in his
duties?"
It is the first time Europe has made such a recommendation
and the majority of member states already carry out random
tests. Under current British legislation, police can only
give drivers a breath test if they believe that they have
been drinking alcohol.
The Tispol president, Ad Hellemons, who is also the Dutch
Assistant Commissioner of Police, told BBC Radio Five Live:
"We can't understand why governments would want to protect
drink-drivers."
But the Home Office said that British police forces already
make effective use of their powers. It believes that
enhancing those powers, such as when and where tests can
take place, is more relevant.
"The Government does not think that the police should have
unlimited powers to stop and test," a spokeswoman for the
Home Office said.