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| Hospitality Magazine column At last action on drug driving It is very good news that the Government are finally taking action against drug drivers. The industry has been asserting for some time that alcohol is being unfairly blamed for inappropriate behaviour in bars, on the streets, in homes and in cars. That the Government has now taken action to provide the Police with the ability to identify and prosecute drug drivers is good news and well overdue. Under the proposed law Police will put suspect drug drivers through a roadside test of balance, co-ordination and eye pupil response and if they appear to be affected they will be ordered to have a blood test. This is not before time. Many in the industry believe there has been too much resource applied to drink driving while drugs have been ignored. What is just as significant is that this decision is based on strong evidence that drugs are a much more significant issue than has previously been acknowledged by the authorities. This is highlighted in an Environmental Science and Research initiative which studied 408 drivers who died in road accidents in 2005 and 2006. 124 had cannabis in their system some of whom had also consumed alcohol, 41 of the drivers killed had only cannabis in their blood and 60 had alcohol in their system, according to data gathered from blood tests. 50 also tested positive for drugs such as morphine, methadone, methamphetamine and benzodiazepines. What this data is saying is that drugs were a factor involved in the deaths of twice as many drivers in 2005/2006 as was alcohol. This is very concerning data but the good news is that is finally being acknowledged and some action is being taken. Police advocacy to lower the blood alcohol limit should now come off the agenda and we should see Police shifting resources to the problem of drug driving. Bruce H Robertson |
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