DRUG TESTS FOR DRIVERS SET FOR NEW YEAR

Northland police have launched their holiday drink-drive blitz but
will soon be able to stop and test drivers for drugs as well.

The Government has announced that driving while impaired by illegal
drugs will become a new offence, attracting the same penalties as
drink driving.

The same roadside impairment test used for alcohol will be applied
when police suspect a driver is impaired by illegal drug use.

The compulsory roadside test includes an eye examination, a balance
test, a walk and turn test and other similar tasks. If drivers fail
the roadside test they will be required to provide a blood test and
could be charged on the basis of that.

Northland police and road safety officials say that with the number
of drug-affected drivers on the increase, the new test is a positive move.

Northland's Traffic Alcohol Group chief Senior Sergeant Alastair Ward
said testing for drugs was an extension of the team's current duties.

"Without a doubt there are some drivers out there taking drugs. At
the end of the day they are just as dangerous as the drunk driver,"
Mr Ward said.

"We need to check for the whole package, not just drunk drivers."

Given the high number of people convicted of cannabis offences in
Northland it stood to reason there would be a high number of people
driving under the influence of drugs and the statistics back him up.

The last in-depth study done into the number of motorists killed in
Northland road crashes showed a high number had smoked cannabis. It
revealed 39.3 percent of dead Northland drivers had cannabis in their
blood, almost double the 21.1 percent national figure.

Police National Headquarters Superintendent Dave Cliff said the
impairment test had a lower threshold than the existing test, which
measured whether a driver was "incapable of proper control". The
roadside drug test is not compulsory under present law.

Professor Douglas Sellman, from the National Addiction Centre of
Psychological Medicine, said the move was a positive one but he
feared the tests may catch the wrong people out.

"It's cognitive testing which may catch out some older people who
have health issues."

Ministry of Transport figures showed drugs were suspected in 36
crashes last year. Drugs were proven in three crashes.

There were 383 crashes where alcohol was suspected.

The Government's road safety policy statement said there were more
than 100 fatal crashes each year where alcohol was a contributing factor.

Transport Minister Annette King said it was difficult to pinpoint the
level of illegal drug use in drivers "because we do not routinely
test for drugs".

But she said illegal drug use among drivers, particularly young
drivers, was higher than the statistics suggested.

The new offence would apply only to illegal drugs nd she hoped the
Government could bring in legislation creating the new offence early next year.

However, Whangarei lawyer Dave Sayes said that under the Transport
Act police were already able to charge drivers under the influence of
alcohol and drugs. "The power already exists but the police really
haven't utilised it. This is a duplication - end of story."

* TAKE THE DRUG TEST

. Balance: Driver asked to stand up straight, feet together, hands by
side. Tilt head back and close eyes. Remain like this for 30 seconds.
Driver indicates when they think time is up.

. Walk the line: Driver to walk toe-to-heel for nine steps, make a
balanced turn, then repeat toe-to-heel back along line. Arms down by
side during this one.

. One leg stand: Stand with feet together, arms down by sides, raise
right foot off ground, hold for about 30 seconds. Repeat on other leg.

. Finger to nose: Close eyes, tilt head back and with nominated
finger touch nose. Officer will get driver to alternate fingers and
repeat about six times.

. Officers will be watching for swaying, loss of balance, ability to
follow instructions and will examine drivers eyes for any pupil
irregularities or eye redness. Age will be taken into consideration.