NEW DRIVER DRUG CHECK

A ROADSIDE test that quickly identifies drivers under the influence of
illegal drugs is about to be put on trial in Victorian booze buses.

The hand-held unit uses a sample of the driver's saliva to detect
marijuana, amphetamines and cocaine.

Melbourne-based distributor Bio-Mediq DPC has also had talks with WA police
with a view to a trial in this State.

The unit is designed to replace cumbersome blood sample-based tests that
can take days to give a result.

However, it is not yet as efficient as roadside alcohol tests - it takes 10
minutes to give a reading.

Victorian police have an unconfirmed number of units.

Bio-Mediq DPC managing director Kevin Walsh said police were waiting for
legislation to pass through State Parliament so they could use them in
their 13 booze buses alongside alcohol breath tests. "This is the first of
its kind in the world that is available and working," he said.

Mr Walsh said he had high-level contact with WA police, who had been given
a unit for testing.

But police in other States, including WA, were waiting for results from the
Victorian trial.

Police using the system take a swab of the driver's saliva and put it in
the hand-held unit, getting the result after 10 minutes.

If the unit detects illegal drugs, police can send the saliva sample to a
lab for official analysis that can be used in court.

The unit, designed in Britain, detects five classes of drugs - cannabis,
amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines and opiates such as heroin and morphine.

However, the opiate detector could be triggered by heavy use of legal
pharmaceuticals such as codeine, so it is not practical for roadside use.

Another problem is occupational health and safety regulations.

Victorian police are concerned that they will be exposed to disease by
taking saliva from motorists.

A study by Voctorian road safety organisation VicRoads suggested one in 900
Victorian drivers are under the influence of drugs - one-third the number
under the influence of alcohol.

More than 70 drug-affected drivers were killed last year on Victorian roads.

Most had been using cannabis.