"obsessed with alcohol"
ttbn,
That is as close to the mark as you can get and, throw in drugs as well !
Bring on a National Service !

Two people slaughtered by a drunken driver (12 schooners) on Valentine's Day night near Pt. Augusta. Drove off in high dudgeon when his own wife refused to get in the car with him. One of his supporters at court today described him a a 'good man's. Pig's arse!

ttbn, do you know what his sentence was?

ALTRAV,

It only happened on Friday, so the court appearance was only a hearing. Probably a committal hearing? He handed himself into the police after the event, so he is likely to plead guilty? Immediate discount for that? There are all sorts of fancy pleas these days when somebody is killed with a motor vehicle, so who knows what he will get. A long time in jail is what he should get.

These links give a bit of info regarding court proceedings for manslaughter and dangerous driving causing death in SA.

http://www.caldicottlawyers.com.au/criminal-offences/assault-violence/manslaughter
http://www.caldicottlawyers.com.au/criminal-offences/driving-offences/dangerous-driving-causing-death

ttbn - "There are all sorts of fancy pleas these days when somebody is killed with a motor vehicle, so who knows what he will get."

- You're right about that;
This is a quote from that second link:

"In previous cases, the solicitors at Caldicott Lawyers have negotiated with prosecutors to have the charge of causing death by dangerous driving reduced to lesser charges, which did not result in imprisonment or driver’s licence disqualification."

Hmmm....

There is little doubt in the public's mind that both excessive speed and drugs/alcohol are contributing factors to the road toll. There is ample research evidence to support those facts. As a progressive society we should always be looking at ways to improve where we can.

Recently in Sydney an horrific accident left four children dead, and a driver charged with 20 offences, including high range drink driving.

"In the wake of the tragedy caused by an alleged drink driver, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is leading the call to reduce the legal blood-alcohol limit to zero."

The call for zero alcohol is coming from a much respected body in the Australian College of Surgeons. The overseas evidence needs to be looked at before a rational answer can be found. Again it comes down to a balance between peoples pleasure and their responsibility to the community at large.