DRUGGED DRIVING ON THE RISE

THE shocking extent of the growing drug menace on our roads is revealed in
a national survey of drivers. An alarming one in nine motorists admitted
driving under the influence of recreational drugs such as marijuana and
cocaine.

The deadly practice was worst among young drivers, with more than one in
four 18 to 34-year-old males saying they had driven after taking
recreational drugs.

In the annual AAMI crash index survey, one in four motorists admitted
ignoring warnings against driving after taking medicines.

Police said drug-driving was a growing problem that would be fought with
new laws allowing drivers to be tested for drug impairment for the first
time from December.

"It's increasing and that's obviously a concern, and that's probably
reflected in general drug use in the community," said Supt Bob Wylie, of
the traffic support division.

The AAMI survey also found:

ALMOST unanimous support for random driver drug tests.

SPEEDING was still acceptable to almost half of drivers.

A SHARP fall in those who thought speedsters did not get caught.

WIDESPREAD concern about the risks posed by older drivers.

A DROP in road rage tendencies.

The survey showed the most reckless drivers were young males, NSW and ACT
drivers, the inexperienced, and those who had been prosecuted for
drink-driving, had received several speeding fines or had been in an accident.

AAMI corporate affairs director Richard Jeffery said it was disturbing that
one in 12 drivers believed drug-driving was safer than drink-driving.

Mr Jeffery said it also was disturbing some people believed recreational
drug use did not make people aggressive drivers.

"After all these years of education and the worldwide evidence of the
disastrous effects drugs can have, it is extraordinary that these people
still have these attitudes and behaviors," he said.

Consulting psychologist John Cheetham called for education at venues where
drugs were used -- nightclubs, dance parties and raves.

Mr Cheetham said signs should be posted at such venues warning of the
dangers of drug-driving.

"We should introduce an awareness of the effects of recreational drug use
and fatigue on driving into pre-licence testing," he said.

Drug-driving claims about 50 lives a year in Victoria with associated costs
of more than $143 million.

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine research on fatal accidents shows
drugs are found more often than alcohol in a deceased driver's blood samples.

In 1997-98 drugs other than alcohol were involved in 32 per cent of
fatalities compared with 26 per cent where alcohol was involved.

The Institute's Dr Olaf Drummer said amphetamines were found in a quarter
of all fatally injured truck drivers.

While 5 per cent of 35 to 54-year-old males admitted driving under the
influence of speed, its use was higher among 18 to 34-year-old males where
one in 11 also admitted using the stimulant.

From December 1, new laws will allow police to video suspect drivers as
they complete a series of eye and balance tests. Those who fail will be
forced to give blood and urine samples for drug testing. Those who test
positive face jail, fines up to $2500 and loss of licence for up to four years.

Supt Wylie said the new tests would allow police to check drug impairment
and for the first time give some indication of the true size of the drug
driving problem.

Of the 770 drivers surveyed, one in 10 supported random police drug-driving
tests. One in 10 also said nobody should drive after recreational drug use
and they would try to stop a person they knew driving if he/she had been
using drugs.

One in 12 of respondents believed driving after taking drugs was safer than
drink-driving and one in 20 did not believe a small amount of recreational
drug use was a safety risk while driving.

One in 25 said it would not affect their driving.

A police source said there seemed to be a widespread notion that driving
while "stoned" was not dangerous.

But Dr Drummer said institute research indicated that people who were
affected by marijuana were five times more likely to be the cause of a
fatal accident.

The widely held belief that young drivers -- especially males -- were the
most dangerous was supported by the AAMI survey results.

Young male drivers aged 18-24 topped the list for having the most
aggressive attitudes, being most likely to drink-drive, speed, be reckless
behind the wheel, have bad driver habits and be involved in a crash.

Other high-risk groups were blue-collar workers, those with less than 10
years' driving experience and those who had been caught drink-driving,
received multiple speeding fines or been involved in an accident.

The survey also found that drivers aged over 55, particularly women, had
the safest attitudes to driving, although elderly drivers are increasingly
being seen as road hazards.