DIAL-A-COMMUNITY
BUS NEWS
2008
Press
Release;
Tuesday 27th May 2008
Driver
Training Nights
Consequences of and the processes involved of having been arrested
for a drink driving offence
Thursday
22nd May at 7.30pm saw a group of volunteer and staff members
of Buchan Community Dial-A-Bus arrive at Fraserburgh Police
station for the next in their series of driver training nights.
The
event was held in partnership with Grampian Police with the
subject being the consequences of and the processes involved
of having been arrested for a drink driving offence.
Alan
Brown; who is a serving police officer as well as being a Director
and trainer for DACB and Rachel Milne the DACB general manager
developed the idea and worked with Grampian Police’s training
unit to bring it to fruition.
Alan
said;
"DACB takes training for its staff and volunteers very
seriously. It's not just a one off, but an ongoing issue. We
are always looking for innovative ways to get safety messages
across, whilst incorporating an interesting, interactive evening
for those who attend. As a serving Grampian Police officer,
I was able to link with a colleague, Sergeant Sean Reynolds,
the training sergeant for Grampian Police within the Aberdeenshire
North area and give some of our staff and volunteers an insight
into the processes and procedures which someone caught for drink
driving faces.”
DACB
had as usual provided bus transport for the volunteers who were
travelling to this event and had previously asked for a brave
volunteer to take on the role of “drink driver”
for the evening.
During
Alan’s initial talk on the law, limits and effects of
driving under the influence Gordon was asked to have a couple
of drams. Then following a roadside “arrest” for
suspected drink driving, he was breathalyzed and taken to the
police station to be processed through the legal system by the
duty Sergeant.
As if
the questioning that followed was not enough the poor volunteer
was then placed in the cells to await a further breath test
on which the pass or fail result of this machine meant conviction
or release.
The
whole evening was designed to be as realistic as if it was the
real thing and as well as being a sobering experience for the
volunteer “guinea pig” it hit home hard to those
who attended what was indeed a valuable insight and lesson to
anyone who might contemplate having just one drink and then
driving.
Alan
was pleased with the reactions from the delegates;
“We showed the reality of not only being breath tested,
but being arrested, searched, property removed and being locked
in a cell. For many who attended the evening it was an eye opening
experience. When the cell door was closed and the metallic clunk
of the lock resounded around the custody area, more than one
person was heard to take a sharp intake of breath! Comments
from those who attended were very positive, and I'm glad the
evening went well”.
Dial-A-Community Bus would like to express their thanks to the
Fraserburgh police, especially Sergeant Sean Reynolds who, as
well as committing the volunteer to the cells, also ensured
that he was “released” in time to enjoy the tea
and biscuits on offer at the close of the evening!
