Police in South Australia have labelled drivers who failed drug testing and alcohol testing over the Easter period as ‘selfish’.
Like all states and territories, there was an increased presence of police on South Australia’s roads over the Easter long-weekend. In SA, Operation Safe Holidays Easter ran from the Thursday before Easter Friday until the end of Easter Monday.
There were two deaths on South Australia’s roads during the period. There were also seven serious injuries recorded.
SA Police conducted nearly 24,000 roadside alcohol tests over the Easter period, with 88 drivers caught over the legal limit. In addition, roadside drug testing in SA caught a further 102 drivers with positive results.
Inspector Damien Eichner, Acting Officer in Charge, Traffic Services Branch said, “While most South Australian road users stuck to the speed limit and the road rules this Easter, it is still concerning that some motorists choose to drive with drugs and alcohol in their system.
“Disappointingly 190 people have chosen to drive after consuming alcohol and/or drugs. Eleven of these people recorded alcohol readings higher than four times the legal limit. This is a selfish act, which puts road users’ lives at risks and is simply avoidable.”
Drug drivers now face immediate loss of license
In other news in SA, drivers now face immediate loss of license if they test positive on the roads during drug testing. Before the change in the laws, drivers who tested positive to drugs could continue to drive until they were issued with a fine or a court summons.
The Immediate Loss of License laws don’t just relate to drink drivers. Other reckless and dangerous driving – such as excessive speed – can also result in the loss of a license on the spot.
Many other states in Australia also have immediate loss of license laws for drug affected and, in some cases, alcohol affected drivers.
Drug driver blames SA’s air on meth positive
A South Australian driver who failed roadside drug testing for methamphetamines has blamed SA’s air in court.
The man pleaded guilty to drug driving in the Magistrates Court. In court, he said it is possible for anyone who walked through Adelaide to be found with methamphetamines in their system.
According to news reports, the pensioner said he doesn’t use meth and was unsure whether he had been around people who had used meth. The police prosecutor told the court that the pensioner had told police that he believed it was possible to ingest meth simply by going for a walk and getting close to meth users.
For the record, while more research is required, it is possible to be affected by secondhand methamphetamine smoke. Research has shown, for example, that non-meth users who’ve been regularly exposed to meth labs can be affected by the drug and can test positive in drug testing.
As for whether it’s possible to be affected by meth simply by walking past someone in the street who had recently used the drug, it’s highly unlikely. We think the Adelaide pensioner must have plucked that excuse from the air!
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Police in South Australia have labelled drivers who failed drug and alcohol testing over the Easter period as ‘selfish’.
