Posted on June 25, 2010 by by Captcha

The ACT Government has introduced new laws where Learner and provisional drivers will face a zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC) with high-range drink-drivers to face immediate licence suspension. media release

This is definitely a good law introduced to by the government, let’s just hope that it works though.

“The new zero BAC for L- and P-platers as well as driving instructors and supervisors (including mums and dads supervising their children) is particularly important as it will ensure that from the beginning of a person’s driving career they receive the clear message that drinking and driving do not mix.

“A full driver licence holder detected with a BAC of 0.1 or more will face the immediate suspension of their licence by police. Research shows that the risk of a crash for drivers with a BAC of 0.1 is almost five times that of a driver with no alcohol in their system and around double that of a driver with a BAC of 0.05.

“To further tackle the rising number of drink-driving offenders, the new laws will stop repeat drink-drivers or high range first time offenders from getting access to a restricted licence.

“Offenders will also need to complete an alcohol education course on the consequences of drink-driving, before they can regain their licence and get behind the wheel.”

The Government would not pursue ‘naming and shaming’ due to a lack of evidence of its effectiveness as a deterrent and the risks associated with publishing the personal details of offenders.

The Government says the new laws will:

• reduce the current blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for special drivers (including learner, provisional, public vehicle and heavy vehicle drivers and holders of restricted driving licences) from 0.02 to zero;
• extend the zero BAC limit to persons instructing or supervising learner drivers;
• limit access to restricted (“work”) licences to genuine “first” offenders by changing the definition of “repeat offender” to mean anyone with a conviction for a drink driving or relevant offence, irrespective of how long ago that conviction was recorded;
• deny access to restricted licences for high range first offenders who exceed the applicable BAC by 0.05 or more (i.e. for full licence holders , a BAC of 0.10 or more);
• require police to immediately suspend the driver licence of a high range offender who exceeds the applicable BAC limit by 0.05 or more (i.e. for full licence holders a BAC of 0.10 or more);
• require all convicted drink drivers to attend an alcohol awareness course prior to being issued a probationary or restricted driver licence; and
• improve procedures relating to the taking and storing of blood samples from persons suspected of, or charged with, offences under the Act.

More about it here Chief Minister media release

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