In our ongoing series for Queensland Road Safety Week, today's focus is on driving under the influence.
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Drink driving is one of the major killers on Queensland roads.
Sixteen per cent of drivers get behind the wheel when they know they may be over the legal alcohol limit, and 20 per cent drive the next morning when they're possibly over the legal limit.
THE FACTS:
- In Queensland, Learner, Provisional and Probationary licence holders are not permitted to drive after drinking alcohol. They must have zero blood/breath alcohol concentration (BAC) limit
- Open licence holders must have a BAC lower than 0.05 BAC. This also applies to supervisors of car and motorcycle learner drivers
- The following licence holders must also maintain a zero BAC when driving:
- Any vehicle weighing over 4.5 tonnes
- A bus build or fitting to carry over 12 adults, including the driver
- A vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goods
- A taxi or public passenger vehicle
- A tow truck, pilot or escorting vehicle escorting an oversized vehicle
- A class RE licence holder in their first year of driving
- A vehicle being used by a driver trainer
- Any vehicle weighing over 4.5 tonnes
- A bus build or fitting to carry over 12 adults, including the driver
- A vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goods
- A taxi or public passenger vehicle
- A tow truck, pilot or escorting vehicle escorting an oversized vehicle
- A class RE licence holder in their first year of driving
- A vehicle being used by a driver trainer
Drinking alcohol can affect drivers and driving performance by slowing down reaction time, causing poor judgement, affecting vision and hearing and reducing a drivers attention span.
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The affects of drugs on driving vary depending on the type of drug but may cause reduced ability to judge distance and speed, paranoia, blurred vision, fatigue, aggressiveness and hallucinations.
Roadside drug saliva tests are designed to react with the active ingredient of the relevant drug, the detection period depends on factors such as the quantity and quality of the drug that has been injected, the frequency of use of the drug and the period of time since taking the drug.
If you are unsure how drugs may affect yours driving - think about asking someone for a lift, catching public transport or walking to your destination.
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