The State Government’s promise to get tough with drink drivers starts on Monday October 24th, when new alcohol interlock laws come into force.
High end and repeat drink drivers will be required to install an alcohol interlock in their vehicle, if convicted of one of the following offences:
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Any Driving under the influence of alcohol offence (BAC of 0.15 or more),
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Any dangerous driving causing death/injury offence where DUI is an element,
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Any dangerous driving causing bodily harm offence where DUI is an element,
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Two offences within 5 years having a BAC between 0.05% and 0.149%,
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Failure to comply with giving a breath sample to WA Police.
Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia said drivers had been given plenty of warning ahead of the introduction of the new legislation.
“West Australians have been exposed to a confronting television and radio advertising campaign over the past five weeks,” said Mr Papalia.
“The West Australian Alcohol Interlock Scheme is not retrospective, so all drivers will start with a clean slate from Monday October 24th. This is a chance for those drivers convicted of drink driving offences in the past to change their behaviour, and not get behind the wheel of a vehicle if they have been drinking.”
According to WA Police, to September 30th this year, 45 people were killed on WA roads where alcohol was suspected in a driver or motorcycle rider involved in the crash, six more fatalities than the 39 recorded over the whole of 2015.
Convicted drink drivers who wish to drive after the initial disqualification period will have an ‘I’ condition placed on their licence for at least six months, and must pay to have the alcohol interlock device installed by an approved service provider.
Vehicles will also have to be presented to a service provider every month for the performance data to be monitored, at the cost of the interlock driver. The cost of an alcohol interlock is estimated to be $1600 over a six-month period. Offenders who do not have an interlock fitted will not be allowed to drive.
It is expected between 4000 and 6000 high end and repeat drink drivers will be required to enter the WA Alcohol Interlock Scheme every year.
For more, see the Road Safety Commission's Drink and Drug Driving page.
Campaign Overview
Show moreOn 24 October 2016, Western Australia introduced an Alcohol Interlock Scheme, which applies to high-end and repeat drink drivers. In the lead-up to the introduction of this legislation, the Road Safety Commission ran a community education campaign.
Campaign objectives
Awareness of Alcohol Interlocks; understand / agree of its road safety intent and know the date that the legislation comes into effect.
Television/Digital Video
Show more- Channel Nine vignettes showing the community impact of drink driving:
- 1. Daughters whose father died after being hit by a drunk driver.
- 2. Dr Andrew Miller (AMA WA President) of the catastrophic physical impact of DD crashes
Radio
Show more- Listen -Up – 1h documentary – broadcast on 94.5, 92.9, SCA Regional Network
Campaign Evaluation
Show moreIn the lead-up to the introduction of the Alcohol Interlock Scheme legislation on 24 October 2016, the Road Safety Commission ran a community education campaign. These were the results:
Summary of results
- 72% overall awareness of Alcohol Interlocks campaign (2.9%+ KPI of 70%);
- Media awareness by medium:
- TV 63% (Metro 69%, Regional 74%)
- Radio 39%
- Digital 29%
- Campaign awareness is significantly higher for drinkers and those from remote and regional areas;
- Overall, 8 in 10 think the campaign is effective in discouraging people from drink driving;
- The ad has a positive impact on shifting attitudes and behaviours as a result of having seen the campaign – particularly among drink drivers;
- Over a third have seen at least one of the vignettes;
- Net media: $536,919. Cost per person reached $0.37.
Ad key diagnostics
| Segment | Impact |
|---|---|
| 96% | Easy to understand |
| 87% | Believable |
| 80% | Told me something new |
| 72% | Attention grabbing |
| 70% | Sticks in my mind |
| 68% | Unique |
| 27% | Just like other ads on TV |
Key message take out
| Segment | Impact |
|---|---|
| 92% | There are consequences for losing your licence |
| 92% | Losing your licence impacts your life |
| 87% | Losing your licence leads to a loss of freedom/ independence |
| 77% | The State Government is getting tougher on drink driving |
