Editorial: Inaction almost as bad as offence

When I was the editor of our sister paper, The Daily Post in Rotorua, there was a drink-driving tragedy that rocked the city, and it's one I still clearly remember.

A 23-year-old local woman, Whittney Robertson, died instantly when a disqualified repeat drink-driver smashed his four-wheel-drive head-on into the car in which she was a passenger.

That was back in May 2009, and it naturally shattered her family.

Now, Bay of Plenty coroner Wallace Bain has released his findings into the tragedy - and is calling for silent witnesses to be charged if they allow repeat drink-drivers to get behind the wheel.

Dr Bain believes legislation should be introduced which places responsibility on people who stand by and let repeated offenders drink drive.

"Those culpable in my view are any person who is in a position to do something about it and who by any reasonable test, fails to act. It is very clear to me that those people should have criminal responsibility," he says in his findings.

I've met Dr Bain and through work read much of what he has to say, and I think he's on to something here.

His comments make me wonder how often people just plainly let known drink-drivers get behind the wheel and put innocent people at risk. These people are nearly as bad as the offender.

Their inaction could well play a part in someone getting killed or being maimed.

We've all seen the adverts on television about drink-driving and much has been written about it.

In my view the laws are still too weak and that is playing a big part in why the country is not getting on top of the problem.

Every month in the Bay of Plenty Times we run the list of drink-drivers caught on our roads and who appear in the Tauranga District Court.

Every month, after I read that list, I wonder just how many close calls there were out there.

Now, as a result of Dr Bain's comments, I will also be wondering: Who knew about these drivers?

Who let them get behind the wheel?

The Government has made an effort to tackle part of the problem in introducing the zero alcohol limit for those under 20. It was a bold move that I have praised before but I believe it should have gone further by toughening up the penalties - both fines and disqualifications.

Hard-core offenders should be banned for life and have any vehicles confiscated.

They should be locked up for a long time.

Hopefully such changes will come, and if they do, I think we need to look at incorporating Dr Bain's suggestion.