DOCTOR SCEPTICAL ON IMPACT OF PROPOSED NEW DRUGGED-DRIVING RULES

Tough new laws for people who drive under the influence of drugs have
been introduced into Parliament but have drawn a sceptical response
from the head of Waikato Hospital's emergency department.

Once the Land Transport Amendment Act is passed it will allow police
to conduct roadside tests on suspected drugged drivers.

If they fail the roadside test they will face a blood test capable of
picking up a range of drugs including cannabis. A positive blood test
will result in the person being charged with a new offence of driving
while impaired by drugs, with punishments similar to those faced by
drunk drivers.

But Shameem Safih, clinical director of Waikato Hospital's emergency
department, expected the new legislation to have minimal impact on workload.

"It is not common, alcohol is the far bigger problem for us," he
said. "There are isolated cases, but even then it is hard to separate
the mixture of drugs and alcohol."

Superintendent Dave Cliff, national manager for road policing, said
the new regime would allow the gathering of data to allow authorities
to determine the extent of New Zealand's drug-driving problem.

He said police estimated they would prosecute 400 cases a year,
compared with 29,000 drink-driving prosecutions.

Transport officials yesterday said it was difficult to determine the
impact of drugs on New Zealand's road toll, but they were believed to
be responsible for 38 serious injuries, 77 minor injuries and 12
deaths in 2006.

Motorists stopped on suspicion of driving while impaired would first
be given a breath-alcohol test. If they passed that, officers would
administer another set of roadside tests.

That would include checking if the driver's pupils were dilated, as
well as co-ordination exercises such as standing on one leg.

If a driver failed those tests, a preliminary drug test would be administered.

Cannabis law reform group Norml said the bill would result in people
who were no danger on the road being prosecuted because the tests
would pick up the use of cannabis for up to three months after it was inhaled.