New drug and drink driving penalties a positive move

24 November 2010

The RAC has welcomed moves by the State government to increase penalties for drink and drug driving offences and called for the new laws to be given top priority when Parliament resumes in 2011.

The new laws significantly increase the licence suspension periods for drink and drug driving offences. Motorists who blow 0.08 BAC will automatically lose their licences for six months, up from the existing minimum suspension of just three months.

The RAC has campaigned strongly for tougher drink driving penalties.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said the new drink drive penalties would bring first offence suspensions in Western Australia into line with other States.

“There is no question that Western Australia has lagged behind other States in reviewing its minimum suspension periods,” Mr Brown said.

“This has sent a message to the community that we don’t take drink driving offences as seriously here as they do in other States.

“With alcohol being the main causal factor in more than one in four fatal or serious accidents, this situation needed to be addressed.

“The Minister for Road Safety should take credit for adopting the recommendations of the Road Safety Council to increase minimum suspension periods.

“It’s now up to the Parliament to work together constructively to try to get these laws into force as early as possible in the New Year.”

The RAC also supports the Road Safety Council proposal to increase the suspension period for high-level drug driving offences but called for the government to move even further.

“Drug driving is an increasing problem on our roads and innocent road users have been killed by drivers impaired by drugs,” Mr Brown said.

“The suspension period for drivers impaired by drugs is to be increased but it remains a concern that motorists with drugs detected in their system still only face a fine and demerit point penalty for a first offence. The RAC has argued that this sends a confused signal to the community on drug use and responsible motoring.”

The RAC has applauded the government for moving to implement the new laws and called for a review of the effectiveness of the new penalties after they had been in operation for at least 12 months.

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