People in the region need to safeguard their livelihood by not drinking and driving, say police.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
New drink driving rules have been introduced in NSW that mean anyone caught driving over the legal alcohol limit will immediately have their licence suspended.
Regardless if they are a first-time offender or it is a low range offence, anyone over the limit - or drug driving - will be given a $561 fine and lose their licence for three months.
Previously, drink drivers were required to go to court for the penalty to be determined.
Western Region commander Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said drivers in Western NSW needed to think about how important their drivers licence was to their job.
"People need to safeguard their livelihood as well as their safety because it's very difficult for people in Western NSW to remain employed without a drivers licence," he said.
"It raises again that level of important of thinking about the implications before you drink and drive."
In Western NSW and isolated areas, you need your drivers licence, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
"It comes back to that individual responsibility for your employment and making sure you can get to work on Monday. Because now you will lose your licence for any drink driving offence," he said.
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said the police would continue to target "the offences that cause the most grief": drink driving, drug driving, speeding and wearing seat belts.
When first announcing the drink driving changes, Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said the reform made it clear that if you break the law you will pay the price.
"We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to drink and drug driving," he said.
Alcohol related crashes claimed the lives of at least 68 people on NSW roads last year, accounting for nearly one in five road deaths, including 55 lives lost on country roads.
Fatalities from crashes involving a drug driver accounted for similar numbers of deaths.
Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Corboy said alcohol was one of the major factors in crashes that killed or injured people on NSW roads.
"The 0.05 blood alcohol limit has been in place for almost 38 years. There are no more excuses," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Orlander Ruming
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
Deputy editor at the Daily Liberal, covering council, politics, human interest stories, community news and everything in between.
