John Bailey RIP

[Lou Girardin]

John Bailey has died of motor neuron disease in Wellington.
Most people don't know him, but he was one of our foremost researchers into the drink related road toll.
His research showed that most fatalities were caused by a small minority of recidivist drink/drivers. Typically 18 to 35 years old, unskilled workers of Polynesian origins.
Needless to say, these findings were not well received by various Governments.
It would be fascinating to find out if measures were taken to target this hardcore group, would our road toll actually be below 300 now?

[vifferman]

Needless to say, these findings were not well received by various Governments.

From the article in The Harold, it sounds like it was because he advocated treating the recidivist drink-drivers, rather than punishing them.
That makes some sense, because most of them just keep doing it, no matter how hard/often they're punished. Like the guy in the news recently who kept drinking and driving, despite having no licence and his car confiscated.

I worked with a guy who was a repeat drink/drive offender. Every time he lost his licence, he just kept driving. He said, "As long as I'm not drinking while pissed, it's just a slap on the wrist if I'm caught." He was caught again for driving while drunk, and said, "No worries - it'll probably be a short-term prison sentence." Yup - 6 weeks on a prison farm.
When he got out, I asked him what it was like. "Pretty much like here [we were working on a farm at the time] except I didn't get paid as much."
"You got paid?!?"
"Yeah - just some money for smokes and stuff like that."
The only thing that bothered him about the whole thing was his little boy had been teased by schoolmates who found out his dad was in prison; otherwise, he didn't give a toss. Fines and other deterrants weren't worse than giving up driving and/or drinking, and it hadn't shifted his values system one iota.

[WRT]

He said, "As long as I'm not drinking while pissed, it's just a slap on the wrist if I'm caught."

Man, I hate those people that drink while pissed. Dont they know when they have had enough?

Seriously tho, shame to see someone with common sense to go unheeded. Tis a a sad day . . .

[idb]

No matter what the facts say, you are simply not allowed to mention race when attributing fault, blame or propensity for negative behaviour.