Before you get behind the wheel in NSW, it is important that you are aware of the rules. If you drive over the limit you risk being fined, but more importantly, you are putting yourself and others at risk. This complete guide will tell you all that you need to know about drink driving NSW and the alcohol limit NSW.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for education and awareness purposes only. Always check the latest official rules and figures. These can be found here.
Alcohol limit NSW
The alcohol limit in NSW depends on what type of vehicle you are driving and the category of your license.
The amount of alcohol in your body is measured in terms of blood alcohol concentration (BAC). This refers to how many grams of alcohol are in your system per 100 millilitres of blood. For example, if you have 0.05g (50 milligrams) of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood, your BAC would be 0.05.
There are three BAC limits in NSW. For learner drivers or riders, and those who hold a P1 or P2 provisional license, the limit is zero. They must have no alcohol whatsoever in their body when driving or riding. This also applies to drivers from overseas who hold the equivalent license.
For some drivers, the alcohol limit NSW is 0.02. This applied to those who are driving a vehicle that weighs more than 13.9 tonnes, those driving vehicles that are carrying dangerous goods, and those driving public vehicles such as buses or taxis.
For any drivers who do not fit into the above categories, the limit is 0.05.
Drink driving NSW penalties
Penalties for drink driving NSW may include fines, losing your license, prison sentences, and an order to install an alcohol interlock device.
Due to changes in the law in 2019, anyone caught drink driving in NSW can have their license suspended immediately, even if they are a first time offender and it is a low-range offence. Those who commit low-range drink driving offences (BAC of up to 0.079) now face an immediate three-month suspension of their license and a significant fine.
Any driver convicted of a high-range, serious, or repeat drink driving offence face losing their license and having an alcohol interlock device fitted to their vehicle. The period of loss of license will depend on the seriousness of the offence, as will the period of the interlock, with 12 months being the minimum.
An interlock is a breath-testing system that prevents the car from starting if alcohol is detected. It also has a camera to reduce the risk of offenders circumventing the system.
High-risk repeat drink drivers may also face having their vehicle impounded for a period of time, usually three months.
Alcohol limits around Australia
The BAC limit of 0.05 for fully licensed drivers and 0.00 for learners and provisional license holders applies all across Australia. Restrictions on those driving public or heavy vehicles or vehicles carrying dangerous goods vary between different states.
Penalties also differ between the different states, as do limits regarding the type of sentence you will receive. Victoria’s penalties are amongst the strictest in the country, with anyone caught driving with a BAC of 0.05-0.069 facing license disqualification for six months, a fine, and an alcohol interlock device.
How to avoid drinking before driving
Some people may have the best of intentions, but still end up driving above the legal BAC limit. Some products may unexpectedly contain alcohol, for example, mouthwash, food, and medicine. Always check the label, and in the case of medication ask your doctor if you are unsure.
Some drivers attempt to calculate their BAC in order to avoid drink driving; however, this is unreliable as several factors affect our BAC. For example, age, gender, weight, fitness, and liver function all affect how quickly our bodies process alcohol.
Furthermore, some drinks have a higher alcohol concentration than others, and they are often served in non-standard measures, making it difficult to know how much you have had.
Many people also think that activities such as drinking water, taking a shower, drinking coffee, or eating food will help to speed up the sobering up process, but this is not the case. The only thing that will sober you up is time.
It is difficult to know how long it will take for all of the alcohol to leave your system, as everybody is different. However, it is important to be aware that even if you have slept your body may still contain high levels of alcohol the following day. Therefore, if you are ever unsure whether you are over the limit or not, then you should avoid driving.
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