Drink driving offenders in Victoria now face three years mandatory alcohol-free driving once their licence is returned.
The tough new penalties came into force last week.
Drink and drug-impaired drivers are a proven menace to people on bikes, and repeat offending is common.
The state government says that the three years at zero blood alcohol will make them think twice before they get behind the wheel.
This mandatory three-year period applies to all drink driving offenders from the time they successfully complete their court-mandated Alcohol Interlock Program.
The Alcohol Interlock Program requires drink driving offenders to install a breath-testing device in their vehicle, which records any alcohol detected. Offenders must have an interlock device in their car for at least six
months or up to four years, depending on the severity of their offence.
Victoria has some of the strongest penalties for drink driving in the country – first-time drink drivers who record a blood alcohol reading between .05 and .069 lose their licences for a minimum of three months and must have alcohol interlocks fitted to their vehicles for a minimum of six months.
Drink driving remains one of the most significant contributors to Victoria’s road toll – since 2023 around one in four drivers who have lost their lives on Victorian roads and have had a blood alcohol concentration of .05 or above.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne says: “Too many families have suffered the heartbreak of losing a loved one to drink driving and these tough new penalties will make drink drivers think twice before getting behind wheel. This will save lives.
“Every single one of us has a role to play to keep our roads safe. If you’re going out for a drink, the safest option is not to drive at all—it’s never worth the risk.”
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