Failed Northern Territory roadside drug testing just part of story

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Many road users in the Northern Territory are making bad decisions when it comes to alcohol and drugs. And it’s not just in roadside alcohol testing and drug testing where this is borne out.

What’s sillier than failing roadside drug testing in the Northern Territory? How about failing to stop at a random testing station? Or, forcing police to initiate a pursuit and driving dangerously through Alice Springs?

It all happened in the Northern Territory just under two weeks when police were conducting roadside alcohol testing in the Alice Springs suburb of Gillen. A vehicle approached the testing station and then failed to stop, causing the police to initiate a pursuit. During the pursuit, the vehicle allegedly drove in a dangerous manner, hitting several bollards before finally abandoning the vehicle and setting off on foot. However, the police officers were much quicker and after a short chase the 33- year-old driver was caught and arrested.

Subsequent drug testing found that the driver was under the influence of methamphetamines.

Northern Territory Police Acting Commander Michael Budge said in a Mirage News article, “This driver placed himself, members of the public, and police at risk, and there is no excuse for this reckless behaviour.”

Alcohol and drugs play big part in worrying Northern Territory road toll

While the above incident ended in no significant harm being done, notwithstanding the damage to the bollards, unfortunately that wasn’t the case in many incidents in the Northern Territory in 2024.

The year marked the worst crash toll in the territory in a decade, with 60 people losing their lives in road accidents. To highlight the seriousness of the 2024 road toll, it was nearly double that of 2023, when 31 people lost their lives.

While the 60 lives lost on Northern Territory roads in 2024 may pale in comparison with Victoria (284) and NSW (340), per capita it’s a different story. The NT has the unenviable distinction of having the worst road fatality per capita in Australia.

In an ABC News article, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Richard Musgrave says that alcohol and drugs are the biggest concern.

“Seventy-four per cent of these fatalities is attributed to alcohol and or drugs,” he said in the article.

He urged people to take more care on the roads, particularly when it comes to alcohol and drugs.

“If any member of the public saw and heard what we’ve (Northern Territory Police) had to hear and see, every time they climb behind the wheel they would think very hard about their actions,” he said.

Unfortunately, 2025 hasn’t started well with a fatal crash involving two vehicles that occurred near Yirrkala Community on 8 January. The crash involved a head-on collision between a Toyota Prado and a Toyota Corolla that had allegedly been stolen early that morning. Four people died in the crash, including three in the Corolla and one in the Prado.

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Many road users in the Northern Territory are making bad decisions when it comes to alcohol and drugs. And it’s not just in roadside alcohol testing and drug testing where this is borne out.

By Michael

Michael is the founder of Integrity Sampling and is responsible for overseeing all national operations. He is based at Integrity Sampling's head office in Melbourne and is also responsible for the co-ordination of drug and alcohol testing within Victoria, assisting in the implementation of drug and alcohol (fit for work) policies and the presentation of drug and alcohol education and awareness programs. You can connect with Michael Wheeldon on LinkedIn

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