NEW laws came into force this weekend which introduced new infringements and tougher penalties for drivers found to be under the influence of drugs, including prescription medications.
Police Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien has called the law a significant step against reducing the harm caused on our roads by drug driving.
According to police, data collected from fatal crashes shows the presence of impairing drugs in a driver’s blood is now generally about equal to alcohol.
In 2021, drugs were present in the systems of drivers involved in 93 fatal crashes – nearly a third of all fatalities that year.
The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act came into effect on Saturday and identifies 25 drugs determined to have the highest risk of impairing the ability to drive safely.
Among the list are ADHD medications, sleeping pills, opioid painkillers and illicit drugs.
The full list, called “qualifying drugs” in the law, is: alprazolam, amphetamine, buprenorphine, clonazepam, cocaine, codeine, diazepam, dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, GHB, ketamine, lorazepam, MDMA, methadone, methamphetamine, midazolam, morphine, nitrazepam, oxazepam, oxycodone, temazepam, THC (cannabis), tramadol, triazolam, and zopiclone.
Each drug has an associated tolerance (threshold) level and a high-risk level, which forms the basis of how police may determine if a driver has committed an offence – of which there are now another 82.
