NEW BOOZE BUSES TO TEST DRUGGED DRIVERS

Police will now be able to test drivers for drugs as well as alcohol
with two state-of-the-art $236,000 "booze buses" delivered to them
today.

The Australian-built buses are expected to be in operation on Auckland
streets over the coming week and will supplement the existing fleet.

They feature a new livery funded by the Accident Compensation
Corporation (ACC) as part of its on-going campaign to reduce the
amount of injury caused by drunk drivers.

ACC injury prevention programme manager Phil Wright said
alcohol-related crashes were costing New Zealanders about $50 million
a year.

"People are getting hurt needlessly and it's costing them and the
country dearly," he said.

"By supporting police and the booze buses, we're working to reduce the
number of people hurt by drunk drivers."

The new vehicles are larger and provide more room for staff than the
19 booze buses already operating around the country.

Superintendent Paula Rose, national manager for road policing, said
they would be an important element in the range of police deterrents
against drink driving.

For the first time in New Zealand, police would also be able to use a
booze bus to test and process drugged drivers, she said.

"We have been using booze buses in our fight against drink driving for
a number of years," she said.

"But the new vehicles take this to a whole new level."