Roadside drug testing bill welcomed
THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL THAT WILL GIVE Police the power to carry out random roadside drug tests on drivers has been welcomed by Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett.
“We commend Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter and Minister of Police Stuart Nash for the introduction of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill,” Leggett says.
“Once passed, it will allow Police to test if drivers are under the influence of drugs, on the roadside, just as they do now for alcohol.
“We have been lobbying for some time for the introduction of adequate roadside drug testing, as drivers on drugs present an increasing risk to our professional drivers.”
Leggett says that in 2019 103 people died in New Zealand road crashes, in which “the driver was later found to have drugs in their system: Unfortunately, this is an upward trend and is surpassing those killed with excess alcohol in their system.
“Those of us in the safety sensitive industries are very concerned about this Government’s plans to legalise recreational cannabis, so it is imperative some steps are in place to ensure employers can meet workplace health and safety laws. This is one step in that direction.”
Leggett points out that truck drivers are in the unique position of sharing their workplace – NZ roads – with the public.
And, he adds: “While the road transport industry follows workplace health and safety laws to ensure drivers are not drug impaired – with extensive testing regimes, including pre-employment, random and post incident/accident drug testing – there is no guarantee that those they’re on the road with won’t be impaired by drugs, as there is no adequate testing regime for them.
“Overseas, there is roadside drug testing, but until now there has been a reluctance in NZ to introduce oral fluid tests to quickly check drivers for drugs such as THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, opiates, cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy) and benzodiazepines, which are the high-risk drugs and medications used by drivers in NZ.”
The RTF hopes that the Bill “will be high on the list of legislation to progress once the next Government is formed. We have a ridiculously high road toll in NZ and drug use is a big contributor. We need to do something about it.”
T&D