Roadside drug testing in regional NSW and Queensland has highlighted the extent of the issue of drugs on our roads (and by association, in our workplaces).
According to an article in The Young Witness, five drivers were detected with illegal drugs in their system during a three-day police blitz across the regional NSW areas of Young, Harden and Grenfell. Two drivers were caught in Young and Harden, and another in Grenfell.
The article quotes Inspector Jacob Reeves, Officer in Charge of Young Police Sector, who said the results are disappointing.
“The rate of positive drug tests on roads across the Hilltops and Weddin local government areas is very disappointing. As I have highlighted before, the NSW Centre for Road Safety reports that the presence of illegal drugs in fatal crashes is around the same percentage as drinking and driving – about 14 per cent of fatal crashes. There is no excuse for driving with illegal drugs in one’s system,” Young Police Inspector Jacob Reeves said in the article.
Meanwhile, The Courier Mail has reported that in the Whitsunday region of rural Queensland, four people have failed alcohol testing and five drug testing within a one week period. This included a driver who had a blood alcohol limit of 0.198, nearly four times the legal limit.
In the article, Whitsunday Police warn anyone contemplating getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs, there is a high chance they will be caught.
Officer in Charge Sergeant Nathan Blain said police had ramped up testing rates to “make sure the road’s safe for everybody”.
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Roadside drug testing in rural NSW and Queensland has highlighted that people are still willing to take risks with drugs and alcohol. Credit Newtown grafitti https://www.flickr.com/photos/newtown_grafitti/5823825993
