A MAN who crashed his car into a roundabout on Wednesday night allegedly had a blood alcohol reading of 0.342 – almost seven times the legal limit.
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The 35-year-old Bathurst man has been charged with high range PCA after being arrested by police at 11.30pm.
Police will allege they were called to a single vehicle accident on the corner of Durham and Mitre streets and, when they arrived, they found the man’s Ford Falcon parked near the roundabout.
Two of the car’s tyres had been blown as a result of the accident.
While speaking to the man, police allege it was apparent he was heavily affected by alcohol, and they arrested him after a roadside breath test returned a positive result.
He was taken to Bathurst Police Station, where a breath analysis returned 0.342. His licence was suspended on the spot.
Senior Sergeant Ben Macfarlane from Chifley Local Area Command said it defied belief that someone who had allegedly consumed that much alcohol could consider driving.
His advice to other motorists was if you know you will be drinking, the best way to protect yourself is to make sure you’re not in a position to drive at the end of the night.
“Give the keys to a friend or relative so you can’t be tempted,” he said, adding
alcohol often affects people’s judgement.
Statistically, Sen Sergeant Macfarlane said even with a blood alcohol reading of 0.15, a driver was eight times more likely to be involved in a crash than a sober driver.
He said he understood the highest blood alcohol reading ever taken in Australia was in the vicinity of .40.
At that level, he said, while some people can function enough to place their key in the ignition, they are unable to perform basic acts like steering.
“Alcohol is a depressant, so it can make people tired, drowsy and, most importantly, much less responsive behind the wheel of a car,” he said.
“Put simply, you can’t react.”
The 35-year-old involved in the accident on Wednesday night was placed on strict bail conditions, which include not driving a motor vehicle, and will appear before Bathurst Local Court on April 14.