Mandatory Compensation Proposed for Victims of Drink and Drug-Impaired Drivers

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious road accident, getting justice can be a long and difficult process. To help fix this, the government is looking at new ways to make sure victims and their families are properly compensated.

The Ministry of Transport is currently proposing changes to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333). If passed, these changes would allow courts to order offenders to pay compensation directly to victims or their next of kin .

Making offenders pay for their actions

Under these new rules, the court will decide the compensation amount based on each case. They will look at how severe the injuries are, the loss of life, the financial impact on the victim, and whether the offender can afford to pay .

This move shows that the government wants to take a tougher stance. Drivers who cause death through reckless or dangerous driving will no longer be treated as if they just committed a minor traffic offence .

Targeting drink and drug-impaired driving

The government is also planning to make compensation mandatory for victims of accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs .

These changes are expected to be implemented by next year, marking a major shift in how the law handles impaired driving .

A broader strategy for road safety

These legal changes are part of a bigger plan to stop dangerous road behaviour, such as illegal racing. The Ministry of Transport is working with the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers to make sure these laws are strictly enforced .

With over 790,000 road accidents recorded in 2025, the government hopes that combining these new laws with tougher enforcement will help bring those numbers down and make our roads safer for everyone .