Vic: Drug drivers on notice, you will be caught
05 Jan 2009 4:19 PM
MELBOURNE, Jan 5 AAP - Victorian authorities have put drivers on notice - pop a party pill before you get behind the wheel and you will be caught.
Last year more than 300 drug drivers were nabbed on state roads, and police say the blitz is working.
The number of drivers caught under the influence of illicit drugs has declined since roadside drug testing was introduced four years ago.
In 2008, 327 drivers out of almost 25,000 tested positive for drugs, a strike rate of one in 76.
This compares to one in 59 the previous year and one in 44 in 2004.
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Minister Tim Holding said drug driving was stupid and dangerous, and police were equipped to test more drivers than ever before.
"Victorians need to get this message that it is totally unacceptable to take drugs and get behind the wheel of a car and if you take this risk not only are you putting yourselves, other motorists ... loved ones at risk, but also your likelihood of being caught is higher than ever, because Victoria Police have the resources to catch you."
Mr Holding said 20 per cent of motorists killed on Victorian roads had either cannabis or an amphetamine-based substance in their systems.
Almost 1,200 drug drivers have been caught in more than 72,000 random drug tests conducted since December 2004.
Inspector Martin Boorman said the detection rate was quite high, but police specifically targeted high risk groups and areas.
He said motorists had not heeded warnings about drugs as well as they had for drink driving.
"People have to understand that drug driving is dangerous ... and people that continue to take drugs and drive will be caught and will be dealt with, the penalties are severe.
"The issue with drug use and driving is that in the community the use of drugs is being normalised within the community. We've got a lot of work to explain to people and get them to understand that it is equally, if not more dangerous than drinking and driving."
Drug drivers risk a $1,200 fine and losing their licence for six months and must complete a drug education and assessment course.
Repeat offenders face a $6,000 fine and being banned from the road for a year.
