QPS and Morning Police Station launched South Brisbane District Operation Wake Up last December 2018 through a drink driving educational event to enhance road safety and reduce road toll.
Acting Chief Superintendent Virginia Nelson launched the QPS program through the QPC Drink Rite event and was attended by Local Queensland MP the Honourable Di Farmer and key stakeholders.
Drink Rite is a Queensland Police Service initiative aimed at helping educate people about alcohol consumption and drink driving, and promote the message to the public — “If you are going to drink alcohol – do not drive.” The program involves an activity that will have participants consuming alcohol and breath tested by a police officer, and discussing the results and educating the participants and audience members about alcohol content, standard drinks, and drink driving.
“By conducting road safety enforcement operations and engaging in education activities we are ensuring the safety of members of the public that drive on the South Brisbane roads,” Acting Chief Superintendent Virginia Nelson said.
Road safety stakeholders who participated in the event were representatives from the office of Federal MP, the Honourable Terri Butler, local school principals and deputies, Queensland Ambulance Service, Port of Brisbane management, sporting club management representatives, and NHW representatives.
The result of breath tests surprised a number of participants who turned out to have exceeded the 0.05 alcohol limit after just a drink or two. The results proved the fact that a person’s breath alcohol concentration is affected by one’s body size, food intake, fitness level, mood, and hormones.
After the activities and reading the results, participants agreed that regardless of the amount of drink they consumed, they should always have a designated driver, or make arrangements to get home.
“All participants walked away with a better understanding of the effects of alcohol and the many different factors that can also affect your breath alcohol concentration,” Officer in Charge Morningside Police — Senior Sergeant Jackson said.
