Editorial: Mum on school run needs help

The mum who drove her kids to school drunk needs help, says Linda Hall.

I hope the mother who drove her unrestrained children to school while under the influence gets some help.

She needs it. None of us knows what is going on in her life but to be unfit to drive at that time of the morning is a sure sign to me of someone in trouble.

If she doesn't choose to get some help now, her children must be cared for by someone else until she does.

At least Beverly Hale pleaded guilty to the charges of refusing to give a blood sample and dangerous driving, as well as two mistreatment charges which relate to her children not wearing seatbelts.

Driving in that state with your own kids in the car is one thing but putting yourself out there in a school zone with hundreds of other children darting about and cars pulling in and out of the area every few minutes is just unbelievable.

The consequences of this drive to school and home may well have been disastrous.

It should be automatic for school children to put on their own seatbelt. They follow by example, so if mum and dad don't bother, then they won't bother.

I've heard children get really upset when the car starts moving because they haven't done up the seatbelt. That's how it should be, an automatic safety device.

Congratulations to the driver who followed Hale to school, where she struck a parked car as she did a U-turn.

Hale, her children and all other road users dodged a bullet the day she made the decision to get behind the wheel.

The case has been referred to Child Youth and Family. It will be up to the service to decide what action is taken in regards to the children.

Let's hope they stay safe and well.