Immediate loss of licence: The strict new road rule starting May 20
Tough new laws will be introduced May 20th to curb the impact of drink-driving on NSW roads.
From May 20th, every person caught drink-driving in NSW will lose their licence immediately and be slapped with a whopping $561 fine.
It’s a new policy that’s being introduced by Andrew Constance, the NSW Roads Minister, who says that the state has “zero tolerance” for drink-driving and drug-driving.
“This means anyone caught drink-driving in NSW, at any level, including low-range, can now lose their licence immediately,” the minister said in a statement today.
“This reform makes it clear if you break the law, you will pay the price. We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to drink and drug driving.”
Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Corboy said that the reform would protect road users due to the steep penalties.
“Alcohol is one of the major factors in crashes that kill or injure people on NSW roads,” Mr Corboy said to news.com.au.
“The 0.05 blood alcohol limit has been in place for almost 38 years. There are no more excuses.”
The blood alcohol limit (BAC) for full licence holders, car or riders, is under 0.05. For those driving public passenger vehicles, which includes buses and taxis, the limit is 0.02.
Learner and P Plate drivers must have a BAC of zero.
The same penalties, which is immediate loss of licence and the fine, will apply for those who are found with drugs in their systems while driving. However, this is only once lab analysis confirms the results.
With around 68 people dying in alcohol-related crashes on NSW roads last year, the introduction of the steeper policy is aiming to reduce that number to zero.