Chris Irwin writes in The Conversation (8.4.16) about the likelihood that introducing a zero blood alcohol limit for drivers would help to reduce road fatalities. He cites fatal crash data from the states to argue that this law change would not significantly influence the behaviour of motorists likely to drive while under the influence of alcohol.
‘The Royal Australasian College of Physicians wants to see blood alcohol limits for Australian drivers drop from .05% to .02% and then zero.
‘Don’t get me wrong, there is a good argument for lowering the blood alcohol driving limit in Australia to zero. It sends a very clear message that alcohol and driving just don’t mix – and they don’t. Alcohol influences brain function, behaviour and performance on a range of tasks and there’s certainly good evidence that alcohol can impair a person’s ability to do complex tasks like driving a motor vehicle.
‘But a zero-tolerance approach is unlikely to curb the behaviour of individuals who choose to drink then drive.’