The Government is proposing to add criminal limits and blood infringement thresholds for 25 impairing drugs to a new bill set to give police the power to conduct random roadside drug testing of drivers.
It has taken the advice from an independent expert panel on drug driving to include criminal limits and blood infringement thresholds into the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill currently before select committee.
Ministers will write to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee requesting they consider the limits and thresholds alongside the bill with public submissions closing April 16.
Transport Minister Michael Wood says the Government is “committed to reducing the harm from drug driving”.
“Last year 71 people died when drivers crashed on our roads with drugs in their system, while in 2019 it was 108 people. We’re talking about families, friends and communities who have lost a loved one, or someone close to them,” he says.
“To develop its recommendations the panel has submitted a report on 25 impairing drugs using data from the scientific literature, the thresholds set in other countries, together with local data on drug blood concentrations in road traffic crashes. I encourage people to scrutinise and submit to the select committee on these recommended limits,” Wood says.
Police Minister Poto Williams says driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol is one of the main contributors to death and injury on New Zealand roads.
In 2018, 50% of drivers killed in crashes had drugs in their system, based on information from Crown research institute ESR.
Cannabis was the drug most commonly detected for deceased drivers involved in fatal crashes and tested for drugs, accounting for 27% of all deceased drivers.
Methamphetamine was the next common detected drug, accounting for 11% of deceased drivers.
“We are committed to taking action to stop unnecessary road trauma. Driving under the influence of drugs is a major safety issue on our roads,” Williams says.
“While drug drivers already face serious criminal penalties if they are caught, the current law makes it hard for police to carry out more tests that could deter drug driving. The current approach to drug driving enforcement is not as effective as it could be at deterring this high-risk behaviour,” Williams says.
The Government’s Road to Zero road safety strategy is based on a vision where no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes and includes a target of a 40% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
Strengthening the detection and enforcement of drug driving is a priority action in the initial Road to Zero 2020-2022 plan.
*Click here for more information on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill.
