Nearly 30% of fatal crashes in NSW involved a driver with an illegal level of alcohol. The highest age group for alcohol related crashes is 21-29 followed by the 17-20 and 30-39 age groups. It has been shown that even low levels of alcohol (less than .05) have an effect on a persons driving ability. If you are at a level of .05 you double the crash risk, at 0.10 you are 7 times more at risk, and at 0.15 you are 25 times more at risk of having a crash.

   In NSW legislation refers to two blood alcohol levels. These are, .02 which applies to drivers and riders who are:

• unlicensed, hold a learners or provisional licence,
• are drivers in their first three years of holding a license (including provisional licence) while under 25 years of age,
• drivers of vehicles of "gross vehicle mass" greater than 13.9 tonnes or are,
• drivers of public passenger vehicle or vehicles carrying dangerous loads.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES:

   If you travel in a group take turns in being the ‘allocated driver’ who will not drink during the period and will drive everyone home.

   Ensure that if you intend to drink and drive you act responsibly. If you are required to stay under the .02 blood alcohol level then you cannot drink any alcohol.

General guidelines

   The RTA provides these guidelines on how much people can drink and remain within the limit. These guidelines are conservative but individual differences may mean that some people can drink less than they prescribe based on size.

   To stay under the .05 blood alcohol level, women can have one standard drink in the first hour and one standard drink every hour after. For men the .05 blood alcohol level is two standard drinks in the first hour and one standard drink every hour after.

Standard drinks

• middy of beer (285ml)
• schooner of light beer (425 ml)
• a nip of spirits such as gin or brandy (30 ml)
• a mixed drink such as brandy and dry (200 ml)
• a glass of red or white table wine or champagne (120 ml)
• a glass of fortified wine such as sherry (60 ml)

• eat before and during drinking to fill your stomach and slow down the alcohol entering your blood
• avoid salty foods such as chips and peanuts which increase thirst
• alternate alcoholic drinks with non alcoholic drinks
• drink low alcohol drinks
• don’t let your partly filled glass be topped up, because it makes it difficult to keep track of how much you have been drinking.

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