Despite decades of public awareness campaigns and police enforcement, drink driving continues to be a major contributor to road fatalities in Australia. In the 12 months to February 2024, 1,286 lives were lost on Australian roads — a 9.9% increase from the previous year. Nearly 30% of fatal crashes involved drivers over the legal blood alcohol limit.
While it may not be the single deadliest risk, drink driving remains one of the most preventable — and persistent — threats on our roads. So what’s fuelling the trend, and what can be done?
The harsh reality behind the numbers
Recent data shows that more than one in four drivers and riders killed in road crashes had a BAC over 0.05. Police conduct millions of breath tests annually, yet the numbers continue to rise — especially around holiday periods. During the 2024 Australia Day operation in NSW alone, more than 240 drink drivers were caught.
Who’s most at risk?
Men continue to dominate the statistics, making up 90% of drink drivers involved in fatal crashes. The 30–39 age group is particularly overrepresented, suggesting targeted education and prevention efforts are still urgently needed.
The law is getting tougher
Legislative changes are catching up with the crisis. The ACT’s new Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 introduced immediate $800 fines and six-month licence suspensions for first-time low-range offenders. Other states are expected to adopt similar reforms.
LEARN MORE: Drink driving penalties in Australia
The danger of the morning after
A 2023 survey revealed that 14% of Australians admitted to driving when they suspected they might still be over the limit — double the figure from 2021. It’s a common mistake: people assume they’ve ‘slept it off’ when in reality, alcohol can linger in the body for hours or more.
A personal responsibility
Stronger laws and more enforcement are important — but preventing drink driving also starts with individual choices. Personal breathalysers, like the Andatech GT, give users the power to make informed decisions about when it's safe to drive — including the next morning.
Looking ahead
Australia’s drink driving problem is far from solved. But with the right mix of education, enforcement, and technology, we can move closer to a culture where zero tolerance is the norm — and where every life lost to alcohol-impaired driving is one too many.
Explore Andatech’s range of Australian Standard-certified personal breathalysers here and take the guesswork out of safe driving.
