The NSW Government has announced changes to road rules for people driving under the influence of drugs after a review following the tragic crash near Bendalong on Boxing Day.
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Actress Jessica Falkholt, her sister Annabelle and their parents Lars and Vivienne died after Ulladulla man Craig Whitall veered onto the wrong side of the road, colliding head-on with the family’s car north of the Bendalong turn-off on the Princes Highway.
Whitall, who died at the scene, was returning from a methadone clinic in Nowra.
The state government announced plans to strengthen guidelines for the Opioid Treatment Program, including new training for prescribers, and new communication about rights and responsibilities for doctors and patients, yesterday.
The changes also aim to reduce the risk of driving while impaired by prescription drugs, including clearer guidance on when doctors should report a patient to a Driver Licensing Authority if they have concerns.
Communications will be enhanced so drivers are aware of the risks and are reminded that driving while impaired by medicines is a serious offence.
A change to the definition of “drug” in the Road Safety Act was also enacted to ensure offenders driving while impaired by a broad range of new and emerging drugs can be charged under the influence.
The overhaul follows a commitment at the launch of the state government’s Road Safety Plan 2021 in February to review penalties, develop new road safety advertising and introduce safeguards to improve driver safety in relation to alcohol and drugs, including prescription drugs.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey also announced a rise in demerit points from four to five points for illegal phone use behind the wheel.
“We know from a recent RMS survey that 74 per cent of the community support a crackdown on illegal phone use behind the wheel. We all see it and the community has had enough,” Mrs Pavey said.
“We have already introduced legislation to enable camera-based technology so it can be used to enforce mobile phone offences in the future, a world first.”
In January, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a raft of tough new measures, including doubling the number of roadside drug tests by 2020 and increased penalties for drug drivers.