Interlocks to make drink-drivers think twice

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19 Sep 2014

  • · New laws to address drink driving and reduce deaths and injuries on
    our roads
  • Expanded interlock program to start on 1 October
  • Napthine Government building a safer Victoria

They say you should not mix your drinks, but from 1 October there are even more reasons not to mix your drinking and driving.

Minister for Roads, Terry Mulder said today that the expanded alcohol interlock program starting on 1 October will be tougher than ever on drink drivers and will make people think twice about having 'just one more'.

"Messages about the dangers of drink driving have become everyday terms; we know if you drink then drive you are a 'bloody idiot'. But amazingly there are still people choosing to have too many drinks and then drive," Mr Mulder said.

"Drink drivers are responsible for 25 to 30 per cent of deaths and 11 per cent of serious injuries on our roads. Even more astounding is the fact that 20 per cent of people caught are repeat offenders, so we are cracking down on them as well as first-time offenders."

Mr Mulder said a campaign to highlight the introduction of the interlock laws would hit the airwaves on 20 September.

TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said the campaign was aimed at drink drivers and riders, in particular young males, to discourage them from getting behind the wheel after a few drinks.

"Our research tells us that males are more likely than females to report having driven over the legal blood alcohol limit," Ms Dore said.

"The campaign drives home the message of inconvenience by depicting a number of everyday scenarios that will be interrupted by blowing into the interlock.

"Ultimately, the inconvenience of having an interlock pales in comparison with the potential tragedy of drink-driving and killing or seriously injuring yourself or an innocent road user. It's simply not worth it."

From October 1, every repeat offender will have to fit an alcohol interlock to any vehicle they drive. A very large number of first-time drink-drivers and riders will also now end up with an alcohol interlock.

Current laws for alcohol interlocks target offenders with a BAC of 0.15 or more, most repeat offenders and young drivers with a BAC of 0.07 or more.

Now added to that list will be:

  • All probationary drivers and learner drivers regardless of their BAC;
  • Other drivers who have a BAC of 0.07 to 0.15;
  • Drivers with a BAC under 0.07 whose licences are cancelled, including professional drivers of buses, taxis and vehicles over 15 tonnes;
  • All repeat offenders with a BAC reading under 0.07;
  • Novice motorcycle riders who are subject to a zero BAC limit; and
  • Serious alcohol-related offences under the Sentencing Act 1991, including first offences.

The alcohol interlock condition will apply for at least six months after re-licensing and at least 12 months for repeat offenders.

An alcohol interlock stops vehicles from being started if the driver has been drinking. They are proven to reduce drink-driving by up to 64 per cent while they are fitted.

"Alcohol interlocks help people to separate their drinking from their driving. So far the program in Victoria has already prevented people
affected by alcohol from driving their vehicles 250,000 times," Mr Mulder said.

"Under the changes, it is estimated that at least 10,000 drink-drivers a year will have to fit alcohol interlocks to any vehicle they drive, a 100 per cent increase on today's numbers.

"That is 10,000 people who will have to explain their poor decision making to anyone who gets in their car, explain it to their boss, their mum.

"It's inconvenient, it's embarrassing and it's avoidable. It's just not worth it.

"Don't plan to drive if you are going to have a drink. If you do, you might end up with your own private booze-bus in your car," Mr Mulder said.

For more information on the new interlock program, go to  VicRoads. 

Media contact: Larissa Garvin 0427 669 628
larissa.garvin@minstaff.vic.gov.au

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