Doctor sceptical on impact of proposed new drugged-driving rules

Tough new laws for people who drive under the influence of drugs have been introduced into Parliament but have drawn a sceptical response from the head of Waikato Hospital's emergency department.

Once the Land Transport Amendment Act is passed it will allow police to conduct roadside tests on suspected drugged drivers.

If they fail the roadside test they will face a blood test capable of picking up a range of drugs including cannabis. A positive blood test will result in the person being charged with a new offence of driving while impaired by drugs, with punishments similar to those faced by drunk drivers.

But Shameem Safih, clinical director of Waikato Hospital's emergency department, expected the new legislation to have minimal impact on workload.

"It is not common, alcohol is the far bigger problem for us," he said. "There are isolated cases, but even then it is hard to separate the mixture of drugs and alcohol."

Superintendent Dave Cliff, national manager for road policing, said the new regime would allow the gathering of data to allow authorities to determine the extent of New Zealand's drug-driving problem.

He said police estimated they would prosecute 400 cases a year, compared with 29,000 drink-driving prosecutions.

Transport officials yesterday said it was difficult to determine the impact of drugs on New Zealand's road toll, but they were believed to be responsible for 38 serious injuries, 77 minor injuries and 12 deaths in 2006.

Motorists stopped on suspicion of driving while impaired would first be given a breath-alcohol test. If they passed that, officers would administer another set of roadside tests.

That would include checking if the driver's pupils were dilated, as well as co-ordination exercises such as standing on one leg.

If a driver failed those tests, a preliminary drug test would be administered.

Cannabis law reform group Norml said the bill would result in people who were no danger on the road being prosecuted because the tests would pick up the use of cannabis for up to three months after it was inhaled.

- © Fairfax NZ News