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Drugs and driving

Drug driving is a major road safety risk. Thankfully, the ability of Police to enforce drug driving has been strengthened by new laws that make driving under the influence of illegal drugs an offence. Drivers can be tested at the roadside if an officer is concerned about their ability to drive safely.

Drug testing

It's likely that drug testing will work alongside random alcohol breath testing. If a driver is impaired but passes an alcohol breath test, the officer will give them an impairment test. If the driver fails the impairment test, a blood sample will be taken and tested for drugs.

Did you know?

Drug driving carries the same penalties as drink driving.

The effect of drugs on a motorist's ability to drive safely can vary considerably depending on the type of drug, potency, and how long ago it was taken. This is why the initial focus is on an impairment test rather than specific levels of drugs in the blood or saliva.

The impairment effects of some drugs, including cannabis, increase significantly when mixed with alcohol.

The safety risk also increases when any artificial wakefulness provided by a drug subsides and fatigue kicks in. This can have the effect of slowing the driver's reactions behind the wheel.

Drug driving carries the same penalties as drink driving.

AA speaking up for motorists

Support for greater enforcement of drug driving

The AA strongly supports the tightening of the drug driving rules.

However, we are concerned that only those that pass the alcohol breath test will be tested for drugs, because the combined use of drugs and alcohol creates a much higher risk than the alcohol level alone would indicate.

We support more research into quantifying how common drug driving is in New Zealand by introducing compulsory drug testing at all injury crashes.

Concern about other forms of impairment

We're also concerned about drivers that fail the impairment test for reasons other than illegal drugs, such as medications (particularly if mixed with alcohol), illness and fatigue.

Drivers who are affected by any impairment need to be educated so they are aware of the risks, and strategies for dealing with the particular issue impairing them, for example how to manage driving with their medications and how to detect signs of impairment.