Arrive Alive Summary Notes

Terminology:
Abstinence the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically alcohol
Addiction, addictive behaviour the person has a strong desire or compulsion to use the drug. The
person is uncomfortable or distressed if the drug taking is prevented or stops.
Binge drinking the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. There
are two forms of binge drinking:
-

The consumption of five or more drinks in one drinking session

Heavy and continuous drinking over a number of days or weeks

Detoxification the process by which an individual is withdrawn from the effects of a psychoactive
substance. Typically, the individual is clinically intoxicated or already in withdrawal at the outset of
detoxification.
Drug misuse the harmful or inappropriate use of drugs
Drug dependence Occurs when a drug becomes central to a persons thoughts, emotions and
activities. Using the drug takes on a higher priority than many other things in life and the person may
neglect other responsibilities.
Experimental use When a person tries a drug to see what its like.
Harm minimisation Acknowledges that some people in societies will use alcohol and other drugs
and therefore incorporates policies which aim to prevent or reduce drug related harms. Harm
reduction is a central pillar of the harm minimisation approach.
Tolerance If a person repeatedly takes a drug, the persons body becomes used to working with a
certain level of the drug in the bloodstream.
Seatbelt Laws
-

Each year on average there are more than 50 people killed who were not wearing a seatbelt, and
almost 300 people injured
In a crash, a person who is not restrained by a seatbelt will continue to travel forward at the speed
the vehicle was travelling prior to the crash, until something stops them.
In cases where back passengers arent wearing seatbelts, they are stopped by the front seats,
causing serious damage to passengers in the front of the car
Penalties
o Fines and demerit points for a driver who is not wearing a seatbelt or who fails to ensure
their passengers are wearing seatbelts
o Passengers aged 16 years and older who do not use an available seatbelt will be fined
o Double demerit points apply for non-use of seatbelts during all holiday periods
It is illegal for you to overload a car, or to have passengers travelling in the boot of a car

Functions of a seatbelt
-

Cause the occupant to decelerate at the same time the vehicle is crushing

Spread theh force of the impact over the stronger parts of the occupants body (pelvis and chest)
Prevent the occupant colliding with the interior parts of the vehicle
Prevent ejection from the vehicle

P-plates vehicle and passenger conditions for P1 and P2 licence holders

Prohibited vehicles:
-

Eight of more cylinders (except diesel)

A turbocharged engine (except diesel)
A supercharged engine (except diesel)
Engine performance modifications that require an engineers certificate
Certain high performance six cylinder vehicles or other vehicles as described in the publication
Novice Drivers High Performance Vehicle Restrictions

Passenger conditions
-

All P1 drivers under 25 must n drive with more than one passenger under 21 between 11pm and
5am
A one passenger condition also applies to any provisional driver is disqualified for a driving
offence

Driver Fatigue
Microsleeps
Microsleep a brief and unintended loss on consciousness. Characterised by head snapping, nodding,
or closing your eyes for more than a couple of seconds.
-

Microsleeps commonly occur when you try to stay awake whil performing monotonous tasks like
driving. They can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

The best way to avoid driver fatigue is to make sure you have enough sleep before driving. There are
3 sleep factors to consider before deciding whether or not to start driving:
-

Circadian rhythms we are programmed by our bodys circadian rhythms to sleep at night and
be awake during the say.
o During night time hours most types of human performance are impaired, inclulding our
ability to drive.
Sleep debt when we reduce the amount we sleep each night, we start to accumulate a sleep
debt.
o When we have a sleep debt, our tendency to fall asleep the next day increases. The larger
the sleep debt, the stronger the tendency to sfall asleep.
Sleep inertia the feeling of grogginess you get after waking.
o It can affect your ability to perform even simple tasks
o Usually reversed within 15 minutes by activity in noise, however can last up to 4 hours

Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue makes us less aware of what is happening on the road and impairs our ability to
respond quickly and safely if a dangerous situation arises.

You are 3 times more likely to have a fatal fatigue crash if youre driving between dusk and dawn
If you fall into a microsleep and nod off at 100 km/h, youll travel 111 metres in just four seconds,
unconscious.
Symptoms of driver fatigue:
-

Trouble focussing, narrowing of attention

Head nodding, or inability to keep the eyes open
Not remembering the last few minutes
Poor judgement, slower reaction time
Zoning out
Daydreaming and wandering thoughts
Constant yawning or rubbing your eyes
Drifting in the lane

High risk:
-

The driver is often alone, having been driving for some hours
Time period between midnight and 6am
Typically involve a single vehicle in rural areas that departs the driving lane and collides with
another object, such as a tree beside the road or another vehicle.

Young male drivers and riders in rural areas, drivers aged over 50 and sift workers with long
hours

Government Legislation and Initiatives

Legislation/
Initiative

What it is?

How does it reduce motor vehicle

accidents?
- Going slower means shorter
stopping distances and lower
impact speed if you hit
something/someone
- Flashing lights creates awareness
of nearby pedestrians
- Going slower means shorter
stopping distances and lower
impact speed if you hit
something/someone

40km speed zones in high pedestrian

areas e.g. school zones

50km speed zones in local suburban

streets

Speed zones dependent on the area

Speeding cameras - fixed (large pole

with a camera on the top, doesnt
move and has signage around it) and
mobile (hand held, usually held by
police in their cars) speed cameras

Make people aware of their

speeding so they will reduce it

Safety camera: like a speed camera

but detects running red lights

Place them at accident prone

intersections to make people
aware and slow down

Speeding

Physically changing the shape of road

e.g. speed humps, chicane,
roundabout, island
Use of seatbelts is compulsory,
ensuring they always wear them

Seat belts

Forces people to slow down to go

around it

Decline in road deaths,

equivalent to thousands of lives
each year.
Stops peoples inertia from
sending them forward through
the windscreen

Child restraint guidelines according

to age
Seatbelt advertising

Crea

Double demerit points if you break

road rules during holiday periods

Encourages people to not break

road rules

Pass the Driver Knowledge Test to

get your Ls
o Drive for 120 hours (100 in
the day, 20 at night) under the
supervision of an unrestricted
license holder.
Pass the driving test to get your P1
(provisional one, red Ps)
o Allowed to drive without
supervision
o Between 11pm and 5am
o Restrictions on the type of
cars you can drive e.g. no
turbo or V8 charged cars
o If youve been tested in an
automatic you drive a manual
o 0 alcohol limit
o 90km/h speed limit
o 1 year
Pass the hazard perception test to get
your P2 (provisional two, green Ps)
o 100km/h restrictions
o 0 blood alcohol limit
o Curfew doesnt exist
o No turbo charged or V8 cars
o Can drive either manual or
automatic
o 2 years

Gives novice drivers the chance

to safely build experience on the
road and improve driving skills as
they move from a learner to a full
license.
Less passengers means less
distractions by friends in the car
Makes sure you can actually drive
Allows young brains to mature as
they drive
Targeted at young people because
they are over represented in car
accidents

Graduated
Licencing
System
-

Pass the Driver qualification test

knowledge based and hazard test, to
get your unrestricted license
Driver reviver a program which
provides free tea, coffee and biscuits,
with a place to rest and recover
because continuation on the road.

Allows drivers time to recover

from fatigue, meaning less
crashes on the road due to micro
sleeps behind the wheel.

Stop, Revive, Survive ad campaign

Makes people aware of driver

fatigue so they stop and rest
when driving

Driver Fatigue

Alcohol
Alcohol is a general term for a
class of chemical compounds.
When referring to alcohol as a
drink, it means a liquid made by
fermenting sugar and plant
materials to form an intoxicating
drink.
Effects of Alcohol
Short term effects:
-

Relaxation, feeling of wellbeing

Loss of inhibitions
Dizziness, unclear judgement
Uncoordinated movements,
slow reactions
Blurred vision, slurred speech
Vomiting, nausea
Unconsciousness and even
death

Long term effects to the right

A Standard Drink
A standard drink is any drink containing 10 grams of alcohol and takes a healthy liver one hour to
remove from the body. One standard drink always contains the same amount of alcohol regardless of
the container size.
A standard drink is a unit of measure, measuring the particular amount of alcohol consumers. People
use it to keep track of how much alcohol theyve had. The consumption limits in the Australia
Alcohol Guidelines are based on the standard drink concept.

Drugs
Drug a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise
introduced into the body. The term drug includes legal and illegal substances such as alcohol,
caffeine, tobacco, petrol, ice, heroin, anabolic steroids, cannabis, pharmaceuticals, and inhalant. Most
drugs are under some form of legal control.
Ways we learn to use drugs include:
-

Learning from our parents, friends and people we work with

What we see on television and at the movies
People we respect or who are powerful
Our own experience when using drugs
Scientific evidence and evolving studies

Effects of Using drugs.

A drug can have psychological, emotional and physical effects and can change the behaviour of the
person taking the drug. These behavioural changes are not the same for everyone. The effect of any
drug will depend on

the drug: what effect it has on the central nervous system; the amount taken; how it is taken;
how often; for how long; if it is taken with other drugs
the person: age, weight, sex, tolerance, past experiences, mood, personality, the expectations
and what the person wants to happen from using the drug

the environment: what the community or society expects, allows and excuses as a result of using the
drug; the place; the presence of other people; noise levels, and so forth

Why People use Drugs

-

For pleasure they like the feeling the drug gives

Because friends and family use them
Because they like the taste
To relieve tension and relax
To be part of a religious ceremony
Because they are lonely
To relieve boredom
For pain relief
To help cope with problems and forget worries
Because they have grown dependent on the drug
Because they feel ill if they stop
To do things they usually wouldnt/couldnt

Healthy Alternatives to Drug Taking

-

Playing sports
Learn to play an instrument
Have a hobby
Joining a club or civic organisation
Move your focus elsewhere

NSW New laws for Drinking and One-Punch

ONE PUNCH:
-

New sentences for one punch assaults

o A 20 year maximum sentence for anyone who unlawfully assaults another who dies
as a direct or indirect result of the assault. If the offender was intoxicated by alcohol
or drugs, a minimum of eight years and a maximum 25 year sentence applies.
Existing maximum sentences increased by two years
o For serious assaults where drugs and alcohol are involved, existing maximum
sentences will increase by two years, and mandatory minimum sentences have been
introduced.
Voluntary intoxication removed as a mitigating factor in sentencing
o Voluntary intoxication by drugs or alcohol will be removed as a mitigating factor
when courts determine sentences.
Drug and alcohol testing for suspected offenders
o Police can conduct drug and alcohol testing when they suspect an offender has
committed an alcohol or drug fuelled violent assault.

ALCOHOL:
-

Lock outs and last drinks:

o 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks at hotels, registered clubs, nightclubs and
licenced karaoke bars. Small bars (maximum 60 people), most restaurants and
tourism accommodation establishments are exempt. Venues currently licensed to stay
open after 3am can do so without alcohol service.
Temporary bans:

o of 48 hours for troublemakers.

Takeaway alcohol sales:
o Stop at 10pm for bottle shops, hotels and clubs. This law is NSW-wide.
Liquor licenses:
o Two year freeze on approvals for new and existing licenses.
Revoking of Competency cards and disqualifications:
o (up to 12 months) for bar staff breaching responsible service of alcohol requirements.
Licensee fines:
o Of up to $11,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months, as well as strikes under
the Government's Three Strikes disciplinary scheme for failure to comply with the
new laws.

Drink Spiking
Drink spiking a situation where a person adds a drug or substance to a persons drink unknowingly
to the persono who owns the drink with the purpose to render that person semi or unconscious.
Most commonly used substances in drink spiking
-

Alcohol, tranquilizers, pharmaceutical drugs, antidepressants e.g. GHB

Drugs that affect the central nervous system or functioning

Reasons for Drink Spiking

-

Take advantage of them without the victim having recollection

Exploit them for sexual purposes
Physical power
As a joke
Intention to physically harm the person from the drug alone

Physical Health Consequences

-

Dependant on the amount of alcohol the person ingests

Disinhibited, could be more talkative and social able
Sick and nauseous
Can cause unconsciousness in large amounts

Psychological Consequences
-

Depression
Paranoia
Anxiety
High stress levels
Emotional and physical damage
Suicidal thoughts

Australia Institute of Criminology Report

-

3000-4000 suspected incidences occurred

1/3 involved sexual assault
Half of victims are under 24
4/5 of the victims are female
Forensic testing of blood and urine is rare and doesnt conclusively confirm that it occurs

It is difficult to establish more accurate statistics because the statistics arent reliable, often drink
spiking isnt reported and when it does its difficult to identify the substance use unless the person
reports it quickly and their bodily fluids are tested in the few hours before it leaves the body. Forensic
testing is unable to conclusively prove that it occurs.
Prevention of Drink Spiking
-

Buying your own drinks and watching the person behind the bar pour it
Never let a stranger buy you a drink
Try to purchase drinks with bottle with lids, and keep the lid
If you feel unsure about your drink throw it away

If your drink has been spiked

-

Tell someone you trust immediately

Made sure to tell a friend or family if youre going on a date with someone
Report any case of drink spiking to the police as soon as possible

You are aware of the effect of a drink spiking incident as soon as 20 minutes after injestion
Penalties for Drink Spiking
-

In the state of Victoria

o Heavy fines and imprisonment ranging from 1 25 years
IN NSW
o Up to 2 years imprisonment
o A fine of up to $11,000
In the UK
o Up to 10 year imprisonment for drink spiking alone
Laws on drink spiking range from country to country, most include imprisonment and hefty
fines

Drinking and Fighting

-

While Australian crime rates have fallen over the past decade, assault numbers have remained
stubbornly high.
Alcohol is a huge factor in street aggression. Incidents can escalate quickly and often with
extreme consequences.
Emergency and trauma physicians are worried about the cases of severe head injuries coming to
Emergency. Some say that although assault numbers might be stable, the attacks are more intense
and the injuries more serious.
Some experts think a change of culture is whats needed, but others believe legislative
deterrents are the answer.

Stories
David Mitchell
David Mitchell was at a Melbourne nightclub in 2008 when he was king hit from behind and had his head
stomped on as he lay unconscious. He suffered brain damage and had to relearn basic language and bodily
functions. He suffered post-traumatic amnesia and, at one point, didnt recognise his parents or know his
own name. He is now part of Step Back Think which urges people to think twice before throwing a punch
and getting involved in a fight.

John Crozier
John Crozier is a trauma surgeon at Sydneys Liverpool Hospital and Deputy Chair of the Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons. He says alcohol is a huge factor in night time assaults in clubbing areas,
resulting in severe injuries. He says Liverpool hospital gets at least three deaths a year from assault-related
head injuries and, for every death, about 10 more serious injuries requiring extensive rehabilitation.
Rod Wilson
Superintendent Rod Wilson commands Melbournes North West area. Despite strategic policing
operations every weekend, Rod says Melbournes CBD still deals with up to 300 street assaults a month.
He says the problem is the density of venues which has risen from 1200 in 2004 to 1800 today. He says
you cant simply arrest the city out of the problem - young people, parents and licensees need to take
responsibility.