Fears drug tests will reveal driving menace

[Oz]

SOUTH Australian road safety authorities admit they are "concerned" about what random drug driving tests on Adelaide roads would reveal.

 

The concern comes after figures from Victoria, released last week, showed one in 50 drivers randomly tested were driving while under the influence of drugs.

 

Victorian police are running a year-long random drug testing trial, with 145 of the 7207 drivers tested in the first six months of this year positive for methamphetamines, cannabis, or both. The strike rate of one in 50 compares to one in 250 drivers caught for drink driving by roadside breathalyser tests.

 

Opposition transport spokesman Robert Brokenshire said yesterday he was sure when drug testing was introduced into SA, probably next year, the number of drivers testing positive to drugs would be "far higher" than in Victoria.

 

"I'm confident that our figures will be worse, being the cannabis capital of Australia," he said.

 

Mr Brokenshire said the Rann Government was playing politics by delaying the introduction of the drug driving legislation, which he said could already have been in place.

 

The state's drug-driving legislation is due to go before State Parliament in November.

 

Assistant Commissioner Graeme Barton, who was "surprised" at the Victorian figures, said yesterday it would take six months for police to prepare for the testing once the laws were passed. He said police would then aim to test about 6000 motorists in the first year. Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the Victorian figures were a "concern".

 

In 2004, 28 per cent of fatally injured drivers or riders who were tested after death had either methamphetamines or cannabis in their blood at the time of the crash.

 

"The issue of drug driving is a growing road safety problem, which is why the State Government plans to crack down on people who put themselves at risk and show total disregard for other road users," Mr Conlon said.

 

Under an SA draft Bill, police will be given the powers to conduct random roadside drug tests using a saliva test.

 

The new offence is a zero tolerance approach, with drivers to be fined or charged if tests detect the presence of drugs. Licence cancellations are being considered.

 

Author: EDITH BEVIN

Date: 19/07/05

Source: The Advertiser

Copyright: © Advertiser Newspapers

[risingsun]

"I'm confident that our figures will be worse, being the cannabis capital of Australia," he said.

 

Once they changed the rules making homegrown hydroponics illegal I doubt Adelaide is still the cannabis capital of Australia.

 

But if it still is they should change SA from the Festival State to SA the Sativa State or SA the Cannablis state!