Drug Driving
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Minister for Roads. Is the Minister aware that in recent years there has been increasing concern about the prevalence of drug driving in Australia, and that many drug users appear unconcerned about driving following the use of drugs other than alcohol and their possible detection by police? I ask the Minister whether he is aware of a recent finding by the Australian Institute of Criminology that states:
One in every four Australians (aged 14 years of age and over) had driven a motor vehicle after they had used illicit drugs, and that over half the detainees who had driven a car or other vehicle in the past 12 months reported driving after they had used drugs other than alcohol.
Given that there has been an increase in Sydney in both the availability and the usage of the illicit drugs ice, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy, can the Minister inform the House what educational campaigns and programs will be established to monitor and reduce the trend of drug driving on the State’s roads?
The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: Drug driving is a matter of major concern and it is a significant road safety issue for the Iemma Labor Government. Members would be aware that in December 2006 laws came into effect to enable the New South Wales Police Force to conduct random roadside drug tests—an important step forward in changing cultural attitudes to drug driving on our roads and enforcing road safety. In January 2007 police began conducting random roadside drug tests and they can detect substances such as speed, ice, cannabis and ecstasy. A highway patrol officer will be able to tell within minutes whether a driver has taken any of those detectable substances. When and where that testing takes place is an operational decision and a matter for the New South Wales police.
The latest information I have relating to this issue reveals that police have conducted about 6,500 random roadside drug tests in 53 roadside drug-testing operations, with more equipment and targeted operations planned this year. Advice that I have at the moment reveals that about one in 38 drivers tested has returned a positive reading. Obviously, a lot of police intelligence goes into targeting areas of drug use and combining police intelligence and information relating to road accidents to ensure that we deploy drug detection processes in appropriate places to maximise benefit. I state clearly to all members that there is no doubt that drug driving is a problem on our roads. This Government is continuing to roll out its random drug-testing program to discourage that sort of dangerous behaviour.
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister inform the House about the educational campaigns and programs that will be established to reduce the trend in drug driving?
The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: Clearly, the education department runs a number of programs in schools relating to the use of drugs not only by people driving but also generally by teenagers and children—a matter of major concern to the community. A number of programs are in place.
