Release: ATA Cautions Against Zero Blood-Alcohol Limit For drivers

Release: ATA Cautions Against Zero Blood-Alcohol Limit For drivers

The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance, the nations' largest grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, today pushed back on calls to implement a zero Blood-Alcohol Limit for NSW drivers in response to the tragedy that left four children dead over the weekend.

"The drunk driving incident this weekend is an incredibly tragic event," said ATA Communications Director, Emilio Garcia, "but the measure proposed by the RACS (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) in response to it is a massive overcorrection."

"The tragedy over the weekend was the result of an incredibly careless drunk driver with a blood-alcohol level three times above the legal limit. This is an enforcement problem, not a problem with the existing law. 

"Several commonsense measures can be put in place to lower drunk-driving incidents. But burdening responsible adults who would face penalties for driving capably after having a glass of wine or a beer over dinner does not undo this tragedy or prevent future tragedies from occurring. 

“Experts have proven a 0.05 blood-alcohol content does not significantly impair driving ability. Let's focus on enforcing already sufficient laws instead of attempting to fix what isn't broken.”