Anti-drink driving
Alcohol-related crashes are unnecessary and tragic for victims and their families. Just a few precautions and a little planning when you drink alcohol can help to ensure a safe journey.
Alcohol ignition interlocks
New alcohol ignition interlocks laws came into effect on 6 August 2010.
An alcohol ignition interlock stops a vehicle from being started if the driver has been drinking alcohol. Interlocks protect road users by separating drinking and driving.
Alcohol ignition interlocks apply to people who are convicted of high-risk drink driving offences. These include people who commit and are convicted of any of the following offences on or after 6 August 2010:
- a drink driving offence with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more, driving under the influence of liquor, or failure to provide a breath/blood specimen for analysis
- dangerous driving while affected by alcohol
- two or more drink driving offences of any kind within a five year period.
Visit our alcohol ignition interlocks page for further information.
Note: Since 1 July 2010 all holders of learner, provisional and probationary licences must now drive or ride with a 0.00 (zero) BAC, regardless of age. Class RE motorcycle licence holders are also required to ride with a 0.00 BAC during their first year of riding, regardless of age or type of licence they hold. The following two letters detailing the changes were sent to current licence holders affected by the new laws:
Legal blood alcohol concentration
0.00 (zero) BAC is also known as the 'no alcohol limit'.
Below 0.05 BAC is also known as the 'general alcohol limit'.
| Licence class | Legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) |
|---|
All learner, P1/P2 provisional, probationary or restricted licence holders (regardless of age). All licence holders learning to drive the next higher class of licence under the authority of their provisional, probationary or open licence.
All class RE motorcycle licence holders for the first 12 months of holding their class RE motorcycle provisional, probationary, restricted or open licence. |
0.00
(no alcohol limit) |
Open licence holders.
(However, if you obtain your class RE motorcycle licence, you must ride with a zero BAC in your first year of riding, regardless of your age or the type of vehicle licence you hold). |
Below 0.05
(general alcohol limit) |
All licence holders when driving, or in charge of: - a truck (any motor vehicle with a GVM over 4.5 t)
- bus (built or fitted to carry more than 12 adults, including the driver)
- articulated motor vehicle, B-double, road train
- vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goods
- taxi, limousine, public passenger vehicle
- tow truck, pilot vehicle or escort vehicle escorting an oversize vehicle
- vehicle being used by a driver trainer to give driver training
- specially constructed vehicle, including a tractor
|
0.00
(no alcohol limit) |
The dangers
It's fun to have a few drinks with your friends, but if you are drinking, the safest options are to catch public transport or a taxi, get a lift with a sober friend, or stay overnight. Better still, if you plan to drive, don't drink.
Too many Queenslanders are involved in alcohol-related crashes. Each year, alcohol contributes to about 25 per cent of road deaths in Queensland.
Alcohol affects your ability to be in control of your actions. If you drink then drive, you will be stopped!
Police conduct random breath testing to deter and detect drink drivers. Motorists in Queensland can expect to be breath tested at least once a year. Police conduct breath tests anywhere and at any time.
Facts about alcohol
The effects of alcohol can:
- make it hard for you to concentrate on your driving
- slow down your reaction times
- reduce your ability to do more than one thing at a time
- affect your vision and hearing
- make you feel more confident which may lead you to take more risks
- relax you, increasing your chances of falling asleep at the wheel
- make simple tasks more difficult.
What is blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
Blood alcohol concentration is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your body.
- Blood alcohol concentration is measured in grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
- A measurement of 0.05 blood alcohol concentration means your body contains 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
- As soon as you start drinking, your blood alcohol concentration begins to rise.
- It takes 30 to 60 minutes after you have stopped drinking for your blood alcohol concentration to reach its highest concentration.
Factors which can affect your blood alcohol concentration include
- how much alcohol you drink
- the time period over which you consume alcohol
- how much you weigh
- how long since you have last eaten
- whether you are fit
- the health of your liver
- whether you regularly drink
- your mood
- your gender
- the type of drink you consume.
How much can I drink and still keep below 0.05?
For men: No more than two standard drinks in the first hour and one standard drink each hour after that.
For women: No more than one standard drink each hour.
Remember, the only thing that will reduce your blood alcohol concentration level is time. It takes your liver about one hour to process the alcohol in one standard drink. Therefore, after a heavy night's drinking it is quite possible to be over 0.05 the next morning. Coffee, cold showers, vomiting, or exercise, will not reduce your blood alcohol concentration.
Skipper program for designated drivers
The skipper program encourages people to plan ahead and consider how they are going to get home safely after having a few drinks. This can help avoid any inconvenience later or temptation to drink and drive. It is all about safe driving and making sure the skipper and their friends and family get home safely.
