New technology will help police to detect drugged drivers

[Oz]

NEW technology will make it even dopier for people to take drugs and drive.

 

Using a hand-held device, police will be able to tell within 90 seconds whether a driver has used one of five major illegal drugs, including heroin and cannabis.

 

That's three times faster than current roadside tests, which can detect only three drugs at a time -- amphetamine, ecstasy and cannabis.

 

The new analyser has been extensively tested in Australia, the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany and the US by its inventor, Philips.

 

Victoria Police know about the new portable analyser.

 

"Victoria Police is aware of the device, as we are aware of a number of other emerging products," said Insp Martin Boorman of the traffic, drugs and alcohol section.

 

In the past three years police have tested 86,719 drivers for drugs, with 1418 positive.

 

In the new test, drivers have to blow into a disposable plastic cartridge attached to a hand-held analyser.

 

Saliva samples cause the cartridge to change colour if cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamines or amphetamines have been consumed.

 

"This new device could see police doing roadside drug tests in the same way they test for alcohol," Philips spokeswoman Sarah Campbell said.

Author: Peter Familari

Date: 06/08/2009

Source: Herald Sun

Copyright: © Herald and Weekly Times.

 

The New Tester made by Phillips

[420 HELI]

oh woe

[jabez]

Why do they waste so much time on this crap! Everyday on our roads there's people wacked up on anti-depressants, Valium and legal opiates, you never hear them talk about that, being high is not why people crash. It's the confidence that comes with alcohol that makes it so dangerous to drink and drive.

 

If it was being high that caused people to crash our roads would be more dangerous than a white man in afganistan!

[Crunchy]

oh snap...

this is not good...

gonna have to be more carefull when im drivin baked next time...

[jabez]

One of my favourite things in the world, is when a copper pulls me up and you look at him with really dopey stoned eyes and say "no officer I havnt been drinking anything", .

[CannabisMan]

i watched a study that put a driver behind the well after smoking cannabis and before and after he did the test better. I dont know if you have ever noticed this but when you smoke and drive everything seems very slow, thats because your mind is taking in so much information you are infact way more alert than any normal driver this was the only physical study that put a stoned driver on the road. ill see if i can find the link again.

Stoned drivers are safe drivers

By Dana Larsen - Tuesday, December 26 2000

Tags:

 

* CC29

* Activists

* Europe

* LEGAL ISSUES

* MEDICAL MARIJUANA

* REGIONAL

* Studies and Reports

* UN and International

 

UK cops are testing for "drugged drivers" despite studies which show stoners drive safely.

 

UK cops are persisting in introducing a series of roadside tests for stoned drivers, despite a study released by the UK Transport Research Laboratory in August 2000, which found that pot-smoking has a minimal if not beneficial effect on driving performance.

The government-funded study was launched under pressure from anti-drug and driving groups, and was an embarassment to the British Ministers who had expected it to support their anti-stoned-driving campaigns.

 

The British study confirmed the results of a wide variety of research into stoned driving from around the world:

 

A 1983 study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) used stoned drivers on simulators, and concluded that the only statistically significant effect associated with marijuana use was slower driving.

 

A comprehensive 1992 study by the NHTSA found that marijuana is rarely involved in driving accidents, except when combined with alcohol. It concluded that "the THC-only drivers had an [accident] responsibility rate below that of the drug free driversS While the difference was not statistically significant, there was no indication that cannabis by itself was a cause of fatal crashes." This study was buried for six years and not released until 1998.

 

Another NHTSA study performed in 1993 dosed Dutch drivers with THC and tested them on real Dutch roads. It concluded that "THC's adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small."

 

A massive 1998 study by the University of Adelaide and Transport South Australia analyzed blood samples from 2,500 accidents, and found that drivers with cannabis in their system were actually slightly less likely to cause accidents than those without.

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A University of Toronto study released in March 1999 found that moderate pot users typically refrained from passing cars and drove at a more consistent speed than non-users.

 

An important consideration when considering the effects of cannabis and driving is whether the smoker is an experienced user. Novice tokers typically experience more difficulty driving than regular users.

 

The British study also found that tiredness caused 10% of all fatal accidents, compared with 6% for alcohol.

 

Roadside testing

 

Despite these many conclusive results, UK cops are promoting their new roadside tests for "drugged drivers."

 

Drivers being tested for stonedness must estimate the passage of 30 seconds, walk a straight line while watching their feet, have their pupils examined for dilation or constriction, and finally be forced to stand on one leg with their head tilted back, eyes shut, arms extended, and touch their nose three times with each hand. (This last one is not easy even for the very sober - try it.) Perhaps most importantly, officers are instructed to pay attention for "herb-like smells" during the tests.

 

Those who fail any aspect of the test must provide a blood sample for drug testing. Failing or refusing the blood sample brings a conviction for "drugged driving."

 

British police bragged they would be able to test 20,000 drivers each year, leading to a 10-fold increase in arrests and charges.

[Nooby]

Saliva samples cause the cartridge to change colour if cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamines or amphetamines have been consumed.

 

In what time period?

 

If I had a few puffs the night before would the policy enforcers arrest me?

[67Special]

I think the real stupidity of this is highlighted in their statistics:

In the past three years police have tested 86,719 drivers for drugs, with 1418 positive.

Seems like a lot of effort when only 1.6% of tested drivers were positive

 

There is a positive side to this too eh.

 

The old excuse that cops couldn't test drivers for being influenced by cannabis is no longer a barrier to legalisation

 

I realise there's nothing too accurate about their methods, but breath testing for alcohol isn't an accurate measure of a drivers ability either.

 

 

If nothing else, it's just another good reason to stay of our roads ...or at least use public transport more

[dsyfer]

If it works on saliva, then the current THC mouthwashes should still work.