Drink drivers to have licences suspended on spot

From next Wednesday, anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol content at or above 0.

  • New laws to remove drink drivers from WA roads

  • Laws to come into force on August 1

From next Wednesday, anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol content at or above 0.08 will be served with a notice that will immediately disqualify them from driving.

Police and Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey said the immediate disqualification would also apply to drivers failing to comply with a police request to provide a sample of blood or breath for analysis.

Mrs Harvey said the new measures reflected the State Government's continued toughening of the laws relating to drink driving.

Those caught driving contrary to these new laws will receive a Disqualification Notice which, once served, immediately disqualifies them from driving for two months.

The Minister said this would replace current laws, which allowed motorists caught driving at or above 0.08 to continue to drive until they were due to appear in court.

"Alcohol is currently a factor in almost a third of crashes in which people are killed and seriously injured on Western Australian roads," Mrs Harvey said.

"The primary aim of this legislation is to provide a greater deterrent to drink driving.

"The community has an expectation that drink drivers, who are caught well above the legal limit, should not be allowed back on the roads until they have served a period of suspension."

The Minister said those who were caught driving while disqualified under this new law would have their vehicle impounded under existing unlicenced driving laws and they would not be able to apply for an extraordinary drivers licence.

"A driver's licence is a privilege and I am confident that this approach will serve to be an effective deterrent and a strong reminder that the risk is simply not worth it," she said.

      Fact File

  • In 2010, 29% of fatal crashes attended by WA Police involved a driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) equal to or greater than 0.05g/100mL

  • Consuming alcohol prior to driving increases your risk of having a crash. Studies have shown that drivers are twice as likely to crash with a BAC of 0.05g/100mL, seven times more likely to crash with a BAC of 0.08g/100mL, while a BAC of 0.15g/100mL increases the chance of crashing by 25 times

  • Liberal-National Govt introduced increased drink driving penalties in October 2011

Minister's office - 6552 5900