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Vic Police want Zero Alcohol Limit for Young Adults

By Peter Cutforth

June 9, 2013

Responsible Service of Alcohol, responsible service of alcohol course, RSA Australia, RSA Training, zero alcohol

Police in Victoria have called for the alcohol limit for young adult drivers, aged under 25 to be dropped to zero. According to police in the state dropping the alcohol limit for drivers under the age of 25 is the best way of saving lives on our roads.

Police say if this zero limit is initiated in the state, then other conditions such as P-plate licences and passenger number restrictions do not need to be addressed.

Road crashes involving alcohol have become a major problem on Vic roads, especially affecting people between the ages of 22-25, according to traffic police.

This article on Sbs.com.au explains further:

Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill says too many people aged 22-25 are still being killed and injured in alcohol-related crashes.

When a zero alcohol limit was imposed on P-plate drivers in 2009, it halved the percentage of alcohol-related crashes for drivers aged 18-22, from 40 per cent to 20 per cent.

But Mr Hill says crashes by drivers aged 22-25 are still alcohol-related 40 per cent of the time, and the way to tackle it is to extend the zero alcohol limit.

“There’s now medical research that indicates that our young people, our young males in particular, there’s a lack of maturity in the brain for these people, where they make impulsive decisions, not understanding the consequences of their actions,” Mr Hill told reporters in Melbourne.

“Why compound that risk by having alcohol as part of the equation when they’re behind the wheel of a motorcar?”

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1769178/Vic-police-want-zero-alcohol-for-25yos

Mr Hill went on to explain his desire for community discussion on the issue and that he was not immediately looking at reviewing other P-plate restrictions like passenger numbers and high powered vehicles. Hill is simply calling for removal of alcohol from the equation completely, because young people especially males between 22-25 are not able to judge whether they are within the legal limits when they decide to get behind the wheel.

VicRoads is apparently also behind the proposal as well as TAC and the Department of Justice, but Hill has reiterated that the community’s support is still needed before the state government can consider change.

Victoria has led the way in the past when it comes to road safety initiatives, previously introducing compulsory seat belts and random breath testing.

The Vic Premier has said these measures will not just be introduced but will first be tested to ensure that they will indeed be beneficial to road safety before they can initiate change.

In the article Hill and the Premier go on to explain:

“We have seen major, major initiatives here in this state that have led the world in reducing road trauma. This is just the next logical step in my view in terms of trying to reduce road trauma in this state.”

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the proposals should be put to the government’s road safety committee, headed by Police and Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells.

“We are open to all suggestions that will improve road safety,” Dr Napthine told reporters.

“They need to be tested and if they are efficacious, then we will implement them.”

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1769178/Vic-police-want-zero-alcohol-for-25yos

 

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