Monday 25 November 2024: New research by the NRMA has revealed almost one-in-five ACT drivers tested positive for illicit drugs in 2023 while roadside drug testing continues to fall.
The road toll in ACT has more than doubled this year with nine lives lost and is on track to reach double figures before the end of the year.
The NRMA has today called on the ACT Government to increase roadside drug testing. Only 1,050 roadside drug tests were conducted in 2023, falling 75 per cent since 2019. Almost one-in-five (19%) tests returned positive.
With the road toll rising the NRMA is calling on:
- Increase in roadside drug testing
- Resourcing for Police to ensure high visibility policing, especially on country roads
- Publicly release roadside drug and alcohol testing enforcement data sooner
- More public education on the effects of drug driving, including medication
- A review of warning labels on medication that could impair driving
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said drivers who combined illicit drugs with alcohol were 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
“It is extremely alarming that one-in-five drivers pulled over for a random drug test on the side of the road tested positive at the same time that the road in the ACT road toll has more than doubled to nine deaths,” Mr Khoury said.
“Too many Australians are driving high and it’s clear we need to ramp up enforcement and to boost education campaigns around ending this dangerous behaviour.
“Random drug testing sends the message that if you take the risk you will get caught and as we head into the Christmas party season this serves as an important reminder.”
Across the ACT, Police can use roadside drug testing to test for the presence of cannabis, methylamphetamine, and MDMA. Testing for cocaine commences in January. The introduction of the ACT’s personal use of cannabis laws do not change the zero tolerance laws to drug driving.
The NRMA remains fearless advocates for the work ACT Policing does to tackle drug driving.
“We welcome the ACT Government’s decision to expand testing to include cocaine and call for more resourcing so that ACT Policing can increase roadside testing of drink and drug driving,” Mr Khoury said.
The NRMA also calls for a review of warning labels on medication and further research into the effects of medicinal cannabis on driver impairment.
