Drink Drive Problem?

The Police are telling us that after stopping 43,000 drivers this weekend, 340 drivers stand to be prosecuted for being DUI. Now, they would have us believe that these numbers are horrendous and drunk driving is out of control. I would suspect that if 1 out of 43,000 were found, this would be indicative of an out of control situation.

I suggest not, the percentage shows us otherwise. 340 out of 43,000 is very small, being below 0.8 percent. While any drink driving is unacceptable, the question must be asked what is the target at which the powers to be are aiming for? Is it 0.5 percent or 0.05 percent or even less? There is never any quoted target percentage - just how do we stack up against say Victoria, the UK or even the States percentage wise? Are we actually as bad as we are portrayed or is this just government spin at work?

Quoting numbers of offenders gives shock horror media sales, but does not show the true picture. Most would suspect that some nutters will always drive with a skinful of turps, so there must be a lower limit which we as NZ society would find acceptable. This should be where we are aiming and agencies such as the Police should be using this target as the base figure against which measurements are made.