By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
ON average Casey Highway Patrol officers catch six over the limit drink-drivers a week – but under a State Government proposed crackdown every single one of them will be required to install an interlock device.
On Friday 13 May Narre Warren North MP and Minister for Roads and Roads Safety, Luke Donnellan said: “Too many drivers pay the fine and forget about the potential consequences of drink-driving.”
The Labor Government aims to introduce legislation to the Victorian Parliament for the expansion of the alcohol interlock program as soon as possible.
The announcement comes on the same morning that a 61-year-old woman was caught more than three times over the limit near Tooradin.
The Warneet woman was taken to a police station where she returned a BAC of .216 per cent.
The legislative amendments mean anyone found to be driving with a BAC over .05 will be required to drive cars fitted with an alcohol interlock device for a specified period, depending on the severity of the offence.
Bus and taxi drivers and those driving commercial and heavy vehicles and tow trucks with a BAC over .00 will also receive a mandatory interlock device and will lose their right of repeal.
Currently, most full licence holders caught with a BAC reading of between .05 and .07 will receive a fine and lose 10 demerit points.
And alcohol interlock devices are only mandatory for full-licence offenders with a BAC of .07 or more, repeat offenders and those on a probationary licence or learner permit.
Figures reveal repeat drink drivers make up 20 per cent of those caught by police.
Mr Donnellan said fines and demerit points alone weren’t working.
“More is needed to help reduce the number of Victorians who lose their lives or are seriously injured on our roads every year because of drink driving.”
Senior Constable Leigh Royal from Casey Highway Patrol said it was a great idea and deterrent.
“When we come across people with interlock devices on the road we ensure they’re complying and that it’s fitted and in working order,” Const Royal said.
“The user has to pay to have it fitted as well as taken out of the car and pay for its upkeep.
“It’s a deterrent because of the money factor and it’s an inconvenience – the newer ones have cameras fitted inside to make sure the right person is blowing into the device,” he said.
Drink-driving accounts for 15-20 per cent of motorists killed on Victorian roads per year and 15 per cent of motorists seriously injured.
