New South Wales is set to introduce tougher measures to combat road trauma with a bill mandating drug and alcohol testing for drivers and bicycle riders involved in crashes causing serious injury.

The proposed law, presented to Parliament on March 25, will permit the collection of blood and urine samples for testing in cases of grievous bodily harm, extending the current regulations that only apply to fatal crashes since 2006.

This legislative change directly addresses recommendations from the NSW Sentencing Council concerning repeat traffic offenders, intending to ensure that those driving under the influence who inflict serious injuries face legal repercussions. 

Furthermore, the bill broadens the scope of post-crash testing to include bicycle riders, meaning they will be subject to similar testing procedures as motorists in fatal and serious injury incidents.

This amendment is a significant component of the state's 2026 Road Safety Action Plan, which aims to halve road fatalities and reduce injuries by 30 per cent by the year 2030.

In a move supported by road safety advocates, the legislation will also replace the term 'accident' with 'crash' in road transport laws. 

This change in terminology reflects the view that deaths and serious injuries on the road network are largely preventable.

The government emphasized its commitment to improving road safety and reducing severe road trauma. 

They assert that operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is unacceptable and those responsible for causing grievous bodily harm through such behaviour will be held accountable. 

Police have indicated that many serious crashes are preventable, and this legislative change will provide them with an additional tool for appropriate charges in cases of serious injury.

The NSW Road Trauma Support Group has lauded the government's decision to expand post-crash testing and alter the terminology, acknowledging that road deaths resulting from criminal behaviour are not random occurrences. 

While recognizing this bill as a positive step, the group believes that vehicular violence needs to be treated with the same severity as other violent crimes to achieve true justice for grieving families. The overarching goal is to cultivate a societal intolerance towards road crime to ultimately save lives.