February 8, 2017
Learner and provisional drivers could be forced to install alcohol interlock ignition systems in their cars as one of several tough new measures being looked at by the State Government in a renewed crackdown on drink-driving.
Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said on Wednesday he was frustrated that one in five road fatalities in Queensland still involved a driver under the influence of alcohol.
“Clearly this is unacceptable and I call on Queenslanders to have their say on how this can be stopped,” Mr Bailey said.
“The impact drink-driving has each year on families is devastating.
“Those who survive these traumatic experiences are often left incapacitated or with other life-long serious injuries.
“Along with the enormous emotional and physical toll, these people can face crippling financial impacts from long term health related costs.”
Mr Bailey said, if left unchecked, it is estimated that drink driving could cause more than 2400 fatalities and serious injuries over the next five years, with a projected cost to the community of $2.7 billion.
“It is a sad fact that a quarter of drink driving offenders will go on to reoffend, and nearly half of all drink drivers are caught driving at twice the legal limit,” he said.
Road safety experts and representatives of road users groups contributed to the proposed measures in the discussion paper at a Safer Roads, Safer Queensland forum hosted by Mr Bailey.
“They include strengthening the current alcohol ignition interlock program by keeping interlocks installed in vehicles until offenders can demonstrate they can separate drinking and driving,” Mr Bailey said.
“Under the current time based program, the interlocks are removed after 12 months regardless of how the person performs while it’s installed.
“An analysis of interlock data shows that almost half of participants are failing one or more breath tests during the period immediately before their interlock is removed.
“We are also seeking comment on expanding the interlock program to other drink-driving offenders such as those caught driving with a blood/breath alcohol concentration of 0.10-0.149, learner and provisional drivers.”
Mr Bailey said in addition to interlock program reforms, more could be done to address the underlying causes that lead to drink-driving.
“As part of this consultation we will also be seeking views on introducing tougher education programs for repeat drink drivers,” Mr Bailey said.
“We know from annual surveys that Queenslanders believe drink driving is socially unacceptable. However, there continues to be a group of drivers not responding to the threat of penalties who may benefit from strengthening the laws and introducing education components.”
The Drink Driving Discussion Paper will be available on the Government’s getinvolved.qld.gov.au website for community feedback from 8:00am on Wednesday, February 8 to Tuesday, March 7.
Proposals in the discussion paper include:
- Making it harder for people to sit-out of the interlock program
- Making people demonstrate that they can separate drinking and driving before the interlock can be removed
- Expanding the interlock program to other high risk offenders including those with BAC between 0.10- 0.149, provisional and learner drivers
- Requiring all drink driving offenders to complete alcohol screening and complete a brief education program
- Requiring all higher risk repeat drink drivers to complete a mandatory face-to-face drink driving education course
- Abolishing or tightening eligibility for a restricted work licence
