In the last five years approximately 41 percent of all drivers and motorcyclists killed who were tested, had drugs in their system and 25 percent of Victorians who use recreational drugs admit to driving under the influence according to a Transport Accident Commission report.
A driver with methylamphetamine in their system is up to 200 times more likely to have a collision.
Member for Northern Victoria, Tania Maxwell has called for increased drug testing on roads and driver education for young people as part of her submission to the Victorian Inquiry into the Increase in Victoria’s Road Toll.
Ms Maxwell said there should be immediate action to expand the rate of random drug testing of drivers on Victorian roads, including the latest drug driving testing equipment and technology.
Ms Maxwell said in practice, not all police are trained to conduct testing and as a result, if a general duties officer suspects drug use, they had to relay the case to Highway Patrol and wait for them to attend a scene. Highway Patrol must then physically see the person driving the motor vehicle before they are able to ask them to submit to a drug test.
Ms Maxwell said such a program should incorporate a special focus on identifying attitudes to risk and shaping behaviour towards low-risk driving as well as defensive driving skills.
The Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA) in Shepparton has under-utilised facilities that in the past, was instrumental in providing thousands of young drivers with basic training and would provide the perfect location for doing this.
