A NEW law targeting drink and drug driving came into effect in New South Wales this week, bringing harsher penalties for combined offences.
The Four Angels Law, which honours Sydney children Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah and their cousin Veronique Sakr who were killed by a drunk and drugged driver in Sydney last year, introduces minimum licence disqualification periods starting at 12 months for mid-range combined alcohol and drug driving offences.
Police are also able to impose vehicle sanctions for high-range, combined first offences, and all second and subsequent offences, with penalties for subsequent offences around double that of a first strike.
The new offence also includes alcohol interlock periods aimed at reducing the risk of repeat drink driving, and threatens prison terms of up to two years.
Transport and roads minister Andrew Constance said the new law “sends a clear message to drivers”.
“This reckless and life-threatening behaviour will not be tolerated in NSW,” he said.
“You’re not only putting your life at risk when you get behind the wheel with drugs and alcohol in your system, but you could also kill your passengers, other road users and innocent pedestrians like Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique.”
Between 2015 and 2019, 98 people were killed on NSW roads as a result of a driver having illegal levels of alcohol and drugs in their system.
