What does an astonishing alcohol testing incident in Queensland have to do with WA truckies?
The incident occurred in Queensland when a truck driver was found on the ground near his vehicle with an empty liquor bottle nearby. Police conducted alcohol testing on the driver and was astonished when the result came back. It was 0.311 blood alcohol level!
As highlighted in a Big Rigs website article, while the blood alcohol level or BAC for most drivers is 0.05, it’s zero for truck drivers in Queensland. This is due to the added safety risks of drunk driving while in control of a heavy vehicle.
The same goes in WA. Truck drivers are amongst a group of people who must maintain zero BAC. If they are caught with any alcohol in their system during alcohol testing, they will likely face a large fine and be disqualified from driving.
As highlighted on the WA Police website, the zero BAC limit applies to:
- Novice drivers who have not held a driver’s licence for a period of two years or more.
- People who have recently been disqualified for certain alcohol or drug related offences.
- Holders of an Extraordinary Licence.
- Alcohol offenders.
- Drivers of buses equipped to seat more than 12 adults, including the driver.
- Vehicles carrying passengers for hire and reward, such as Ubers and taxis.
- Vehicles carrying dangerous goods.
- Vehicles of or over 22.5t GCM.
It should also be noted that truck drivers are part of a group of people who use the roads in the pursuit of their careers. This means that if they fail alcohol testing or get caught with drugs in their system, they don’t just lose their licence, they often lose their ability to earn an income.
In some cases, there can be a long-term impact as well. All transportation companies should have drug and alcohol policies that in part, set out the expectations for their employees and the consequences when rules are broken. This will include failing alcohol testing on the roads.
If you’re a truckie and you fail roadside alcohol testing in WA, this will mean you’ll likely face additional consequences at work, in addition to the legal consequences. In many cases, these consequences may include immediate termination of employment.
While some will consider this harsh, given the safety implications of a truck driver driving while under the influence, it’s certainly understandable.
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
An astonishing alcohol testing incident in Queensland provides a healthy warning for WA truck drivers. Credit Jacques Bopp https://unsplash.com/photos/red-and-brown-truck-on-paved-road-bZraMr4ojPM
