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“Catch us if you can" - Many unauthorised drivers risk apprehension

30 April 2009

The Sentencing Advisory Council today released a report that finalises an investigation of people who drive while disqualified or suspended. The report recommends improvements to methods for detecting the growing numbers of unauthorised drivers on Victorian roads.

During the review, the Council spoke directly to drivers about their reasons for driving without a licence and what would stop them in the future. The Council found:

• offenders feel a necessity to drive because they could lose their job, find it difficult to earn a living or it would place a burden on their family
• many unauthorised people drive because they believe their risk of being caught is very low, particularly when they take steps to avoid being noticed by police
• a car sitting in the driveway gives a strong temptation to drive
• many unauthorised drivers are unaware of the penalties associated with being caught.

Council Chair, Professor Arie Freiberg, said, “You only need to look at the recent Easter police blitz to see that many people are continuing to drive without licences. Along with over 400 people caught for drink driving and 500 who were given notices for using their mobile phones, over 500 people were driving without valid licences. This is a large and growing road-safety and law enforcement problem.”

The Council’s recommendations include:

• abolishing the mandatory minimum penalty for a second or subsequent offence of driving while disqualified or suspended – the Council found this penalty is ineffective
• increasing the detection of unauthorised drivers through greater use of automated number plate recognition – accompanied by extensive publicity of this initiative
• toughening up the rules to do with impounding vehicles of people found to be driving while suspended or disqualified
• improving early intervention, rehabilitation and education for drink drivers – offenders with underlying alcohol problems must be forced to confront and address their issues.

“We’ve listened to what offenders have told us, which is that their need to drive is outweighed by the risk of being caught. However, the research shows that these drivers are a road safety risk, so the Council is saying – toughen up on detection, toughen up on impoundment, and where a person has deep-seated problems with alcohol, force them to deal with their problem before they harm someone else”, said Professor Freiberg.

The Driving While Disqualified or Suspended Report can be obtained by contacting the Sentencing Advisory Council or downloaded from our website.