Drivers to take drug tests

[boulder]

TOWNSVILLE will host the country's first random sampling study of drivers to discover what drugs are being used by Australian motorists.

 

The Queensland University of Technology and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland (CARSQ) will conduct their research in the Townsville region from Easter.

 

For two to three months, researchers and local assistants will select random locations throughout the district to conduct drug tests.

 

Deputy Director of CARSQ Dr Jeremy Davey yesterday said the latest technology in saliva testing would be used in the non-invasive tests.

 

"It is not a police program and we will give people $20," Dr Davey said.

 

"Basically we will ask them if they want to take part, they will have to do a saliva test and fill out a survey.

 

"But none of the results are known until the saliva sticks are analysed in Brisbane and no identifying information is taken.

 

"It is not a police operation . . . we are not collecting any evidence."

 

The tests should only take 30 seconds to a minute, he said.

 

Dr Davey said Townsville was chosen to hold the sample study as it was representative of the Australian population and not because of any high drug use belief.

 

"This work hasn't been done in Australia. It is really interesting in that we have done a lot of interviews asking drivers what they have taken, but we have never done random testing," Dr Davey said.

 

Certain age groups would be more likely to be under the influence of drugs, however drink driving was still the biggest concern on the roads, he said.

 

Drugs that can be detected through the saliva test include cannabis, amphetamines, heroin, and cocaine.

 

There is little risk of legal drugs being confused for illegal substances in the testing.

 

Regional Traffic Co-ordinator Inspector Brian Richardson said drug driving was a complex issue, with police relying on their training to detect indications of drug use by motorists.

 

Insp Richardson said blood tests were carried out for alcohol and drug readings after accidents.

 

"It is quite obvious people do take drugs and then drive motor vehicles but (as for) the extent of it, I can't comment," he said.

 

Last year's AAMI 2003 Young Drivers Index showed 19 per cent of drivers under 25 years admitted to taking recreational drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, speed or ecstasy before driving.

 

In the North, the report said men under the age of 35 were considered the worst drivers by 40 per cent of the population, while 91 per cent of drivers believed young people should undergo a safe driving course and 69 per cent also believed young people should not be allowed to drive high performance vehicles.

 

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