RoSPA Drinking and Driving Policy Paper 2007

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Drinking and Driving Policy Paper Updated May 2007 Australia All Australian States have a limit of 50mg/100ml. In New South Wales and Western Australia the limit is 20mg/100ml for learner and novice drivers, drivers of heavy vehicles, public passenger vehicles and dangerous goods vehicles. Random Breath Testing operates in Australia although the level and method of operation varies between States. Mobile RBT has been introduced in some States. Also ‘targeted’ RBT operates in some states when police target roads leading from specific hotels or pubs, or all major exits from a specific town/city at a specific time. South Australia deals with offences within the 50-80mg/100ml range by means of Traffic Infringement Notices and a fine. Disqualification only becomes a penalty where blood alcohol levels are over 80mg/100ml when the minimum period is 6 months. In New South Wales the penalties include fines of up to $2,200 and disqualification of up to one year. The penalties increase for higher blood alcohol levels and for repeat offenders. If the BAC reading exceeds 150mg/100ml, or the individual refuses to submit to a breath analysis, their licence is confiscated and suspended immediately. Australia also imposes Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices, preventing a car from being started if the driver is over the limit. New Zealand New Zealand’s limit is still 80mg/100ml but they are considering reducing it in line with Australia’s. For drivers under 20 years it is 30mg/100ml. New Zealand operates Compulsory Breath Testing of all drivers who are stopped, and the legal system allows the impoundment, confiscation and forfeiture of vehicles of offenders. Penalties include a maximum term of imprisonment of three months or a maximum fine of $4,500 or both, together with disqualification for six months or more. Persistent drink drivers face tougher penalties for third and subsequent offences, and face losing their licence for a minimum of one year instead of six months. 5
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Drinking and Driving Policy Paper Updated May 2007 3. DRINK DRIVE ACCIDENTS AND CASULTIES 2 Drink drive casualties account for 16% of all road accident deaths, 7% of all serious injuries and 6% of slight casualties. In 2005, there were 10,080 accidents involving illegal alcohol levels, compared with 9,900 in 1994. 560 people were killed in those crashes, 2,100 were seriously injured and 12,740 slightly injured. Total drink drive casualties in 2005 were 15,400 compared with 15,160 in 1994. Table 4: Drink Drive Accidents and Casualties, 1994, 2004 and 2004 1994 2004 2005* Drink Drive Incidents 9,900 11,210 10,080 Deaths 540 580 560 Serious Casualties 2,840 2,340 2,100 Slight Casualties 11,780 14,060 12,740 *provisional data In the past ten years, the proportion of drivers killed in road accidents who were over the legal blood alcohol limit has fallen considerably. In the early 1980’s, around a third of drivers killed were over the limit. It has now fallen to just under one in five (20%). The proportion fell as low as 15% in 1998, but has risen since then. The proportion varies with age, with driver fatalities aged under forty were more likely to be over the limit than drivers aged over 40. In 2005, 11% of drivers aged 40 years and over who died in road crashes were over the legal drink drive limit, but this proportion more than doubled to 30% for drivers aged 20 – 29 years. A higher proportion of drivers aged 30 – 39 years were also over the limit. Around 2% of drivers and riders involved in accidents fail breath tests. Drinking and driving is a year round problem, although the pattern varies year on year, the winter months generally have lower numbers of drink-drive accidents and casualties than other months of the year. Table 5: Drink Drive Accidents and Casualties by Month. 2004 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Accidents 800 890 890 910 1,060 920 950 960 890 1,100 940 900 Casualtie s 1,230 1,370 1,360 1,360 1,620 1,440 1,400 1,400 1,310 1,650 1,410 1,320 6
Page 1 and 2: DRINKING AND DRIVING POLICY PAPER U
Page 3 and 4: The Royal Society for the Preventio
Page 5: The Royal Society for the Preventio

RoSPA Drinking and Driving Policy Paper 2007

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?