<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>333940</docID> <postdate>2024-11-25 11:40:36</postdate> <headline>One-in-five drivers test positive for drugs, says NRMA</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-273956" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RBT-1-landscape.jpeg" alt="" width="916" height="611" /></p> <caption><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Random drug testing sends the message that if you take the risk you will get caught and as we head into the Christmas party season this serves as an important reminder,†says Peter Khoury.</span></caption> <p><b>Almost one-in-five ACT drivers tested positive for illicit drugs in 2023 while roadside drug testing continues to fall, according to new research by the NRMA.  </b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said drivers who combined illicit drugs with alcohol were 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is extremely alarming that one-in-five drivers pulled over for a random drug test on the side of the road tested positive at the same time that the ACT road toll has more than doubled to nine deaths,†Mr Khoury said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has called on the ACT government to increase roadside drug testing, saying only 1050 roadside drug tests were conducted in 2023, falling 75 per cent since 2019. Almost one-in-five (19 per cent) tests returned positive. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the road toll rising, the NRMA is calling for: </span></p> <ul> <li><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">An increase in roadside drug testing. </span></em></li> <li><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resourcing for police to ensure high visibility policing, especially on country roads. </span></em></li> <li><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Publicly release roadside drug and alcohol testing enforcement data sooner. </span></em></li> <li><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">More public education on the effects of drug driving, including medication. </span></em></li> <li><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A review of warning labels on medication that could impair driving. </span></em></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Too many Australians are driving high and it’s clear we need to ramp up enforcement and to boost education campaigns around ending this dangerous behaviour," Mr Khoury said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Random drug testing sends the message that if you take the risk you will get caught and as we head into the Christmas party season this serves as an important reminder.â€Â </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the ACT, police can use roadside drug testing to test for the presence of cannabis, methylamphetamine and MDMA. Testing for cocaine begins in January. The introduction of the ACT’s personal use of cannabis laws do not change the zero tolerance laws to drug driving. </span></p> </body>