Shadow Police Minister Rob Lucas said today Premier Rann stood condemned for another Rann Government ‘stuff up’ with road safety laws which potentially put at risk the lives of innocent drivers.
“The most recent example revealed by police relates to a driver caught speeding at 175 km/h in a 60 km/h zone and who also had a blood alcohol reading of 0.151,” Mr Lucas said.
“The Road Traffic Act is meant to result in an automatic licence suspension of 12 months for the blood alcohol reading of 0.151 and automatic licence suspension of six months for speeding by more than 45 km/h above the speed limit.
“Because of the Rann Government’s ‘stuff up’ with regulations under the Act, this driver is now free to continue driving – at least until the court case commences in more than two months.
“What the latest revelation means is that this latest ‘stuff up’ relates to drivers guilty of excessive speeding alone, as well as those drink drivers with more than 0.08 blood alcohol levels.
“The Rann Government’s attempt to deny responsibility and point the finger at police by saying this is an ‘operational matter’ for SAPOL is political cowardice and beneath contempt.
“Mr Rann and his Ministers – Atkinson and Conlon – must now accept political responsibility for this ‘stuff up’! Sadly, Mr Rann seems prepared to just accept incompetence or negligence from his Ministers.
“Mr Rann cannot get away with ‘passing the buck’ on this critical issue.
“If his hapless Ministers cannot fix this problem urgently then either Atkinson or Conlon should resign or be sacked.”
