Cracking down on drugged drivers

File photo.

A Bill to bolster Police's ability to tackle drug driving has been lodged as a Members Bill by National MP for Wairarapa Alastair Scott.

'Too many fatal crashes involving drugs have highlighted the need to crack down on those who get behind the wheel while under the influence of illegal substances,” says Alastair.

'That's why I've lodged the Land Transport (Random Oral Fluid Testing) Amendment Bill to establish an effective Police roadside testing regime to better deal with drug driving."

Similar to mobile random breath testing for alcohol, drivers may be stopped by a Police officer at anytime, anywhere in the country and be tested for cannabis, MDMA and methamphetamine.

'At a time where the roads are heavy with traffic from holidaymakers returning home and tourists making the most of the New Zealand summer, the risk of drug-impaired drivers causing serious injury or fatal crashes increases significantly," says Alastair.

'The current law doesn't do enough to deter drug-impaired people from getting behind the wheel – Police must have good cause to suspect that a driver is impaired by drugs before requiring them to stop and take a behavioural test, like walking heel to toe in a straight line."

Alastair says police roadside testing is a much stronger and more visible drug driving enforcement measure which will help deter people from driving while under the influence of drugs.

He says it will also improve Police's ability to catch those who do before they cause a crash.

'With advances in technology over recent years making roadside testing for drugs much more practical, now is the right time to introduce it.

'My Bill will help to ensure greater road safety and reduce the number of crashes caused by drug driving. I look forward to it being pulled from the ballot.”

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5 comments

Definately.!!!!

Posted on 23-01-2018 09:45 | By Marshal

In all my years of driving 50 +. I have seen a lot of destruction caused by impaired driver.. Testing must include pharmaceutical drugs and all there derivatives as well as Narcotics. And a lot more alcohol testing.. Our roads need to be a lot safer to use.. There must be a way to reduce the truck verses car deaths .Cheers All.


Wheels

Posted on 23-01-2018 10:21 | By maildrop

Sure are slow to turn in NZ.


Agree Marshal & Maildrop

Posted on 23-01-2018 11:39 | By Border Patrol

Alcohol is not the only thing that should be tested, and why has it taken so long for it to be recognised by the politicians that drugged impaired driving is a big issue in this country. There is a big meth problem here in the bay (and users come from many walks of life), and how many of those users are still getting behind the wheel.


SF

Posted on 23-01-2018 22:25 | By Snowflake

About time is all i can say there are so many out there "drug driving" what makes them any different to "drink driving"


Dog Whistle Politics

Posted on 24-01-2018 14:29 | By MildGreens

The current law doesn't do enough to deter drug-impaired people from getting behind the wheel "This has more to do with a pending debate and possible referendum than science (evidence based policy formulation)If you want to achieve an end goal state, show us the policy impact statement, how you achieve it, what the budget is and how the framework doesn't impact on civil liberty, human rights and right to appropriate health options. (without having to undress in front of a police officer, public servant or the legislative enforcement justice processes. )Ands I will show you how to reduce traffic fatalities without having to do any of that... Regulate drugs, all of them... readers may not like the message, even hate the messenger but there is no accounting stupidity! Ramping up enforcement is tilting at windmills.


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