The New South Wales government has today announced stronger road safety laws that will allow blood and urine samples to be taken from a driver or rider if they’re involved in a crash resulting in grievous bodily harm.
The new measure will enhance drug and alcohol testing for drivers involved in serious injury crashes on NSW roads, with the samples able to be tested for both drugs and alcohol.
The current law, in place since 2006, has allowed for mandatory drug and alcohol testing of all drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Now, the update will extend this to urine and blood samples for testing from serious injury crashes, with the new law to support police investigations of serious driving offences.
“I’m pleased this bill is being introduced to parliament today which delivers actions in the NSW government’s 2026 Road Safety Plan,” NSW roads and regional transport minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“This bill will strengthen post-crash drug and alcohol testing, and further support police investigation of the most serious injury crashes on our roads.
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“The NSW government is sending a clear message that drink and drug driving is not acceptable and those who engage in this high risk behaviour will be held accountable, where they cause injuries consistent with grievous bodily harm.
“We are committed to improving road safety and reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads, and this bill helps us achieve that goal.”
The bill was introduced based off recommendations by the NSW Sentencing Council’s report on repeat traffic offenders.
The amendment is an important part of the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan, which is targeting to halve deaths and reduce injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030.
NSW founding member of Road Trauma Support Group Duncan Wakes-Miller has welcomed the move to expand post-crash drug and alcohol testing while also replacing the word ‘accident’ with ‘crash’ in legislation.
“These changes acknowledge that criminal road deaths are not random — they are preventable,” he says.
“My son Barney was killed by a drunk driver who got just a 12-month ban. Until vehicular violence is treated with the same gravity as other violent crimes, justice will keep failing grieving families. This bill is a step forward — but not the finish line.
“Road crime must become a social anathema if we’re serious about saving lives.”
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