Call to review NT’s drink-drive laws after ‘horrible’ year

The Territory’s drink drive laws could be reviewed after a ‘horrible’ year on Territory roads. Have your say.

Drinking and driving in the Northern Territory could be a thing of the past if a top traffic cop has his way.

Following a horror patch on Territory roads including nine fatalities in 12 days this month, Assistant Commissioner Matt Hollamby has called for a change to the law that allows alcohol ingestion by a vehicle driver.

It is legal in the Northern Territory to drive and drink alcohol simultaneously, although it is an offence if the driver is over the prescribed .05 blood alcohol limit.

He said at a random breath-testing station at the weekend police observed motorists consuming alcohol while driving.

NT Police assistant commissioner Matt Hollamby.

“We intend to maximise our presence on the road and you would have seen some large random breath testing stations on the road in recent weeks and that will continue,” Mr Hollamby said.

“One thing we noticed on the weekend during our campaign was people drinking a beer while driving. We’ll just ask you to be realistic and to be serious about road safety. Some people just need to get the message.

“It’s not an offence (to drink while driving), its an offence to drive over the limit. We don’t advocate it, we don’t advise it and we should certainly have a look at it and it’s a future consideration.”

Mr Hollamby's comments came as the NT government announced it had bought 13 new Subaru WRX patrol cars to replace the ageing fleet of Kia Stingers and VW Passats that will bring the NT police traffic unit’s vehicle count to 29.

Designed by operational police, the new vehicles have a $70,000 price tag and feature emergency lighting, a dual battery system, rifle mount with electronic release, automatic number plate recognition, advanced speed radar and a light bar with a messaging board.

Acting senior sergeant Xavier McMahon officer in charge Darwin Traffic Operations with one of the new Subaru

Mr Hollamby said the Subaru was chosen ahead of a number of other potential vehicles.

”We’ve trialled a number of cars and the Subaru is exceptionally versatile and nimble on the road,” he said.

“It’s top speed is a speed that we will probably never reach, marginally slower than the Stinger and equivalent to the Prassat. It’s got to be value for money and represent best value for the Northern Territory.”

He described the 2024 road toll as “horrible”, with communities and families mourning the

loss of loved ones.

Northern Territory Darwin Traffic Operations conducted 1349 breath tests in three locations across Darwin on Friday resulting in nine arrests for drink driving, two for low range, six medium range and one high range, with nine caught speeding.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the new police cars were “common sense enhancements”.

“My government’s focus is to keep Territorians safe, this means more officers, in more police stations across more of the Territory to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour.” she said.

The Territory road toll sits at 39, compared to seven for the same time last year, with nine people killed on the roads within 12 days between July 8 and July 20.

Neither Labor or the CLP committed to changing the law around drinking and driving.

Originally published as Call to review NT’s drink-drive laws after ‘horrible’ year