A NEW road safety campaign targeting drink drivers "just over" the blood alcohol limit has been launched today by the Motor Accident Commission.
The 'Just over, just don't drive' campaign will focus on young males in particular who believe if they are not obviously drunk then they are still able to drive.
The MAC said impairment started after only a few drinks, with reaction times and judgement significantly reduced at .05. The campaign will include three TV commercials, two radio commercials, four venue advertisements for pubs and clubs and online advertising.
The TV commercials show a young man being pulled over after trying to "sneak" home through the back streets, and graphic images of a road fatality described as being "just" dead in reference to the driver creeping over the legal blood alcohol limit.
The MAC said the commercials were run in Victoria up to five years ago and were successful in reducing the road toll.
SAPOL traffic support branch superintendent Linda Fellows said police figures showed an increase in the number of people testing just over the limit and a reduction the amount blowing high figures.
"People are not blowing as high as they did some years ago, which is showing that there is some community impact - but the number of people drink driving is not really changing," she said.
"It's a real concern for us and we want people to make the decision not to drink and drive.
"People are misjudging the amount of alcohol they have had to drink and the message of this campaign is that just over is still over."
MAC general manager of corporate affairs Ben Tuffnell said about 30 per cent of road fatalities each year were caused by motorists driving over the legal blood alcohol limit.
"This campaign is showing you don't have to be drunk to be a drunk driver and being just over the limit can cause just as much carnage," he said.
He said the new commercials were run in Victoria up to five years ago and showed some success in reducing the road toll.
SRC: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6128059050
