Petition Tag - safer roads

We are resolved to remove hardcore impaired drivers from New Zealand’s roads. These individuals typically:

Drive with a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or above (almost twice the legal New Zealand limit);

Do so repeatedly, as demonstrated by having more than one drunk driving arrest, and

Are highly resistant to changing their behaviour despite previous sanctions, treatment, or education efforts.

While hardcore offenders constitute a relatively small number of drivers, they account for a disproportionately large share of drunk driving problems. For example, it is estimated that while drivers with BACs in excess of .15 are only 1% of all drivers on weekend nights, they are involved in nearly 50% of all fatal crashes at that time.

Hardcore drunk drivers do not consume alcohol in moderation and they show no respect for the limits of the law. To reach a BAC of .15, a man weighing 80 kilos (176 pounds) would have to consume approximately seven drinks in one hour.

Research also has found that, compared to all drivers, hardcore offenders often are more aggressive, hostile, and thrill-seeking. Hardcore drunk drivers are also irresponsible, reckless, and abnormal in their drinking patterns and subsequent behaviour on the road. They tend to have much higher rates of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems, and are more likely to have a criminal record, to use drugs, and to have poor driving records. The New Zealand Police have recently commented on the increasing "casualness" of attitude of repeat offenders. In other words, they do not care.

The proposed changes are Cross Roads policy. Cross Roads is a Sensible Sentencing Trust initiative.

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The dramatic rise in traffic volume using stebonheath Rd due to New housing estates & closed Rds is having a major impact on the number of increasing car accidents at the Intersection of Stebonheath Rd & Womma Rd.

Traffic Management measures are desperately needed to stop car crashes, traffic congestion at peak hours & to ensure a continuous flow of traffic. The poor condition of Stebonheath Rd is consistent with the major potholes scattered the entire length of the road. Road edge wear is cracked, crumbling & falling away, road surface is uneven & the shoulders have ditches which fill up with water &/or mud. The road in places is too narrow to accommodate a car & a truck passing each other, regularly forcing one to veer off the road into ditches,mud,water,potholes & or into the path of oncoming traffic. Upgrade/construction of Stebonheath Rd and Traffic management measures at the intersection of Stebonheath & Womma Rd is sought to ensure the continued safety of commuters & to reduce the excessive number of car accidents already taken place during the past six months or so. Commuters vehicles are also being subjected to excessive wear & tear on tyres & suspension. Stebonheath Rd is a major arterial road used by residents in Andrews Farm, Smithfield Plains,Daveron Park & Davoren Park North. With the new housing estates estimating thousands more residents, this road plays a vital role in commuting from one area to another.

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