Victoria Police to Increase Roadside Drug Testing
Victoria Police will be armed with an extra 25,500 drug testing kits in a bid to clear our roads of drug affected drivers and reduce the road toll.
Police Minister Bob Cameron has announced $10 million worth of funding to replace drug-testing devices and expand roadside drug testing.
“Drug drivers are a growing concern with testing showing police are nearly three times more likely to detect impairing drugs in drivers compared to drivers with a blood alcohol content reading over .05 and we are taking action to curb this behaviour,” Minister Cameron said.
Around one in 67 drivers tested are found to have an illicit substance in their system, compared to around 1 in 160 with a blood alcohol content level over .05.
With the additional drug testing kits the number of drivers tested is expected to double to 40,000 annually by 2012.
“While Victoria is achieving record low road tolls, any life lost on our roads is too many and our Government will continue to work with Victoria Police and road safety authorities to help save lives and keep families together,” Mr Cameron said.
“Victorian’s 2008 road toll was the lowest on record – 303 people lost their lives last year, the lowest since records began in 1952 and 28 less than 2007.”
The expansion of roadside drug testing is one initiative working toward the State Government’s goal to cut the road toll and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2017.