Under S6C of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which action constitutes an offence?

• A. Failing to cooperate with a preliminary test without a reasonable excuse.
• B. Passing the preliminary test.
• C. Cooperating with a test that has not been approved.
• D. Driving without a licence.

Answer: (A)

When police suspect a driver may be over the drink-drive limit, they can require a quick preliminary breath test at the roadside to screen for impairment. The key rule is that you must cooperate with this request and provide a breath sample if asked. If you fail to cooperate or provide a sample without a reasonable excuse, that is an offence.

This is why the other ideas aren’t the best fit: simply passing the preliminary test shows you complied, so it isn’t an offence; cooperating with a test that isn’t approved doesn’t fall under this specific offence, which targets failure to cooperate with the required preliminary test; and driving without a licence is a separate violation unrelated to the preliminary test rule.