Would you get behind the wheel soon after taking cannabis, heroin, methamphetamines or MDMA? The likely answer is no, but unfortunately that’s not the case for everyone. There are still many people who do take the risk… And many people getting caught by roadside drug testing in Victoria as a result.
Across Victoria, roadside drug testing is not only becoming more frequent, but also more strategic. Police have revealed some of the tactics they’re using to catch drivers who continue to put themselves and others at risk.
Roadside drug testing tactics catching more drivers
As recently reported by The Senior and Bicycle Network, Victoria Police are refining their approach to roadside drug testing to stay one step ahead of those who think they can cheat the system.
Key tactics include:
- Drug testing sites are no longer confined to major highways or festival exits. Police are increasingly targeting suburban streets, country roads, and commuter routes to surprise unsuspecting drug-affected drivers.
- Late nights and early mornings are common testing windows, especially during the week. It’s part of a move to catch shift workers and others who may have used drugs overnight.
- Police units are sharing information quickly and using data to focus testing efforts in known hot spots for drug activity.
- Advanced record-keeping means individuals caught drug driving may be subject to more frequent and targeted testing in the future.
The approach appears to be working. Police are not only increasing the number of tests they’re conducting each year, but they’re also catching more drug-affected drivers—and it seems many are testing positive for methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine the leading drug detected on Victorian roads
While it won’t likely surprise you to hear that Victoria Police is still catching people in roadside drug testing, here’s something that may surprise. The most common drug now being detected is methamphetamine. In fact, more than 75% of positive drug tests now involve methamphetamine.
This is particularly alarming as methamphetamine—particularly crystal meth, commonly known as “ice”—poses a significant threat to road safety in Victoria. Police say the drug’s stimulating effects can lead people to wrongly believe they are capable of driving safely. In reality, meth can cause extreme agitation, impaired judgement, overconfidence, hallucinations, and even aggressive behaviour—all of which increase the risk of serious accidents.
The high rate of methamphetamine users being caught in roadside drug testing certainly surprises us. While methamphetamines is commonly detected in our workplace drug testing, it’s not usually the most detected drug. That ‘honour’ goes to cannabis, which is also the most used illegal drug across Victoria and Australia.
Driving drug-free isn’t just for public roads
The increase in roadside drug testing and detection in Victoria sends a clear message: drug driving is not only illegal, it’s also being aggressively targeted by authorities. But while police work to make public roads safer, businesses and employers must do their part too.
At Integrity Sampling, we’re helping workplaces across the state implement effective drug and alcohol testing programs to reduce the risk of incidents, improve safety, and support employee wellbeing.
From Melbourne to Mildura, Geelong to Gippsland, we have 10 locations throughout Victoria, making it easy for businesses to access professional drug testing services. Whether you need random testing, pre-employment screening, post incident or under suspicion testing, we can help. Or if you need support with policy development or education, we do that too.
Together, we can help you build a safer, drug-free workplace in Victoria.
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
With more meth users behind the wheel, police are intensifying roadside drug testing in Victoria using smarter tactics. At the same time, Integrity Sampling helps keep workplaces safe with drug testing across Victoria’s businesses. Credit Weyne Yew https://unsplash.com/photos/people-crossing-road-near-yellow-train-PCbpcMAY_ew
