Zero blood alcohol reading under review for repeat drink drivers

A zero blood alcohol reading is on the cards for rebel drivers who continually flout drink driving laws under tough new conditions.

Repeat drink drivers would be required to have a zero blood alcohol reading whenever they get behind the wheel under changes being studied by the Victorian government.

Victorian Roads Minister Ben Carroll flagged the tougher approach against rebel drivers who continually flout drink driving laws as the government rolled out the first action plan from its $1.4bn road safety strategy.

Mr Carroll said any introduction of a zero blood alcohol concentration reading would be limited to drivers who had lost their licence for drink driving on numerous occasions.

“We would be looking at people that have gone through multiple loss of licence for drink driving,” he said on Sunday.

“Other jurisdictions around the world have had this approach, where they have looked at targeted interventions for zero blood alcohol limits in legislation and the law, so that is what we will do here in Victoria.

Repeat drink drivers could face tougher blood alcohol rules.

“We are very committed to focus on repeat offenders who are putting other lives at risk.”

The study of a zero blood alcohol concentration limit will consider the threshold for having such a measure imposed, but Mr Carroll said it would not apply to first-time offenders.

The review will also consider imposing a 0.02 blood alcohol reading on repeat drink drivers.

Such measures have been rolled out in 22 jurisdictions worldwide, Mr Carroll said.

The government will also expand its cash for clunkers scheme by trialling a system where older, low-income regional drivers will be supported to lease a new vehicle with the most up-to-date safety equipment.

The trial will be rolled out to 50 people.

The measures are part of an action plan which focuses on road users who are at high risk of injury, such as motorbike riders, gig-economy delivery drivers and people who continually engage in dangerous behaviour.

“Victoria has been a leader in road safety … but we must remain vigilant,” Mr Carroll said.

“We must do everything we can to prevent deaths on our roads.”