Tougher drink-drive laws target 'dangerous' offenders

The most dangerous drink drivers will now have to pass a medical before they are allowed back on the roads under a change in the law announced by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond. The changes, which come into force from 1 June 2013, mean that High Risk Offenders will need to pass a medical confirming they are no longer alcohol dependent at the end of their disqualification and before they start driving.

Currently, all High Risk Offenders must pass a medical examination before they can be issued with a driving licence following their disqualification. However, drivers can start driving as soon as they have applied for their driving licence. Evidence suggests that some High Risk Offenders delay their medical in order to continue driving.

What’s a High Risk Offender?

High Risk Offenders are defined drivers who are convicted of 2 drink driving offences within 10 years, convicted of driving when they were at 2.5 times or more above the legal alcohol limit, or convicted for refusing to give the police a sample of breath, blood or urine to test for alcohol. Last year, 22,000 of the 50,000 convicted of drink drive offences were classed as High Risk Offenders.

The changes will prevent High Risk Offenders from driving until they have passed their medical examination and been granted a licence. 

The changes also mean that drink drivers who refuse to give permission for a blood sample to be analysed will now be High Risk Offenders. This means that they will only get their licence back following disqualification if they pass the required medical. 

Stephen Hammond said: “Drink drivers are a menace and it is right that we do everything we can to keep the most high risk offenders off the road.

“The new measures will also see those drink drivers who obstruct the police by refusing to allow their blood samples to be analysed treated the same as other High Risk Offenders.”