Zero BAC requirement for all heavy vehicle drivers
The blood-alcohol limit is zero for drivers of heavy vehicles greater than 4.5 tonne.
The zero BAC statutory requirement for all heavy vehicle drivers was introduced on 1 April 2021. Previously the zero BAC requirement only applied to drivers of ‘larger vehicles’ – vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 15 tonnes.
From 1 April 2021, the zero BAC requirement was applied to drivers of all heavy vehicles which are defined as vehicles with a GVM greater than 4.5 tonnes.
At a BAC of .05, the risk of being involved in a road crash is about double compared with a BAC of zero. Studies show some drivers can be impaired from as little as 0.02 BAC.
Crashes involving heavy vehicles are often serious because of their significant size and weight, regardless of who is at fault.
Heavy vehicles are more difficult to operate compared to a regular passenger vehicle. Their size and weight make driving and manoeuvring around turns more challenging, slowing down and stopping more time consuming, and loss of control easier, but harder to recover from.
Driving is a complex task requiring concentration, judgement and decision making. Alcohol affects these skills and decreases a driver’s ability to safely control their vehicle.
Alcohol is a depressant, so it slows messages to and from the brain, impacting upon decision-making, slowing reaction time and reducing overall vigilance.
Drivers face harsh penalties if they are caught drink-driving.
What are the penalties?
The penalties are the same as those that currently apply to drivers based on their licence and legal limit.
The penalty will differ depending on the BAC reading and other factors, but all offences will incur loss of licence, a mandatory behaviour change program and an alcohol interlock.