Victorian motorists who drive with a cocktail of drugs and alcohol in their systems will face hefty new penalties under a new drink and drug offence.
Drivers will face court fines of up to $4330 for first offenders or up to almost $39,000 for repeat offenders, a minimum 12-month license cancellation and immediate vehicle impoundment if caught driving with drugs and alcohol in their system.
Roads Minister Terry Mulder said it was part of a bid to cut road trauma by clamping down on the danger created when drivers mix drugs and drink.
"This is going to hurt," he told reporters.
"We will not tolerate people who have no duty of care to other motorists."
Research showed motorists with alcohol and drugs in their system are on average 23 times more likely to be killed in a crash than others, he said.
They're also more likely to cause a crash than people with just alcohol in their system.
The penalties will be introduced into parliament this month and take effect from mid next year.
Mr Mulder said the state is one of the few places in the world to create a separate offence for combining alcohol and drug driving.
First-time drink drive offenders with blood alcohol levels of .10 or more will also have their vehicles impounded by police for 30 days.
At the moment, only repeat drink drivers with a reading of .10 or more have their vehicles immediately impounded.
The new combined alcohol and drug driving offence carries a maximum fine 50 per cent hire than the maximum for drink driving alone.
Motorcyclists will also have a new graduated licensing system, introduced from October 1.
The program includes better training, education and testing to ensure new motorcyclists are more prepared for the road and less likely to be injured.
Under the new licensing system, learner riders must always have headlights on, not use mobile phones and wear a high visibility vest or jacket.
The requirement for zero blood alcohol, no pillion passengers and a ban on mobile phone use will be extended from 12 months to three years, bringing riders into line with car drivers.
