More RBTs, less drink drivers on our roads in T&HWP

Police are pleased that more drivers are getting the message of "don’t drink and drive" as the number of people caught drink-driving has significantly fallen in the last financial year, NSW Police say.

Police conducted more than 6 million random breath tests in the year ending June 30, resulting in the prosecution of one driver for every 343 tests, down from one in 305 in the previous financial year.

"Clearly education, raising awareness and more RBT all contributed to this result, which is pleasing considering that when RBT was first introduced in 1982, 1253 people died on the road, compared to 350 fatalities last year," Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.

"However, we remain concerned that some drivers continue to think it is acceptable to get behind the wheel after drinking, and we will continue to target them for the safety of all road users," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

In the financial year ending June 30, police charged 18,563 drivers to drink-drive offences, compared to 19,161 in the same period the year before.

The top locations for drink-driving offences were:

Byron Bay: 185

Coffs Harbour: 160

Port Macquarie: 154

Dubbo: 136

Albury: 122

Orange: 118

Queanbeyan: 102

Goulburn: 100

Griffith: 97

Armidale: 95

"In the previous financial year, the rate for drink-driving was 1 in 305 and in 2012, it was 1:188. We will continue to target this unacceptable behaviour and get drink-drivers off the road," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

Penalties for drink driving are severe and are as follows:

High range PCA (blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or above)

OR

Refuse a breath analysis, hinder or obstruct taking of a blood sample, wilfully alter the concentration in the blood.

Penalty

First offence

Second or subsequent offence

Maximum court- imposed fine

$3,300

$5,500

Maximum gaol term

18 months

2 years

Minimum disqualification

12 months

2 years

Maximum disqualification

Unlimited

Unlimited

Automatic disqualification (disqualification period that applies in the absence of a specific court order)

3 years

5 years

Immediate licence suspension

Yes

Yes

Mid range PCA

(Blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 to less than 0.15)

Penalties

First offence

Second or subsequent offence

Maximum court- imposed fine

$2,200

$3,300

Maximum gaol term

9 months

12 months

Minimum disqualification

6 months

12 months

Maximum disqualification

Unlimited

Unlimited

Automatic disqualification (disqualification period that applies in the absence of a specific court order)

12 months

3 years

Immediate licence suspension

Yes

Yes

Low, novice or special range PCA

Low range PCA (Blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 to less than 0.08)

OR

Novice range PCA

(Blood alcohol concentration over zero for novice drivers)

OR

Special range PCA

(Blood alcohol concentration over 0.02 for special category drivers)

Penalty

First offence

Second or subsequent offence

Maximum court- imposed fine

$1,100

$2,200

Maximum gaol term

N/A

N/A

Minimum disqualification

3 months

6 months

Maximum disqualification

6 months

Unlimited

Automatic disqualification (disqualification period that applies in the absence of a specific court order)

6 months

12 months

Immediate licence suspension

No

No

"These penalties are severe for a reason; to act as a deterrent to road users and help avoid serious injury or death caused by drink-driving," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.