Impaired Road Users

Impaired driving occurs when the operator of a motor vehicle is affected by alcohol, illegal or legal drugs, or a medical condition.

ACT Drink and Drug Driving legislation defines the permissable amount of alcohol permitted in the blood of a driver. There is also legislation in place banning the use of illegal drugs while driving.

Prescription drugs have printed labels advising of risks in operating machinery including motor vehicles where there are known side effects , and warnings of any concerns with mixing medications with alcohol.

Advice from ACT Policing is that a primary contributing factor to serious and fatal crashes in the ACT is impaired driving, generally alcohol, but sometimes in combination with illicit drugs.

This has been a factor in almost 50% of fatal crashes in the three year period 2007 to 2009. Of major concern to ACT Policing is the high rate of repeat offenders caught for drink driving.

The Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Legislation Amendment Act 2010 was passed by the Assembly in October 2010 and made a number of major reforms to ACT drink and drug driving laws.

Drink driving reforms restricting the availability of restricted (work) licences, introducing a zero alcohol concentration for novice and special drivers, and introducing immediate licence suspension for high-range offenders commenced on 1 December 2010.

New provisions will come into force on 25 November 2011 requiring persons convicted or found guilty of a drink or drug driving offence on or after that date to complete an approved alcohol and drug awareness course in order to retain or regain their driver licence.