Police will be able to detect cocaine taken by drivers after the state government this week added it the list of drugs subject to roadside drug testing.
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Orange police and authorities have welcomed the move by the state government that will also see the number of roadside drug tests doubled from 100,000 to 200,000 by 2020 and increased penalties for drug drivers.
The latest figures from the state government’s Centre for Road Safety show drugs were involved in 10 per cent of fatal crashes in the Central West from 2010-2016.
Sergeant Mark Hevers, the highway patrol supervisor for Orange, said drug use was becoming a major problem on the roads.
“It’s a growing problem across the state,” he said.
“The propensity for people to drive with drugs in their system is increasing.
“Anything that we can do to increase the detection is good.”
Canobolas Local Area Command acting inspector Yonneka Hill said drugs and fatigue were key areas of concern for drivers.
“Any level of drugs is not a good thing at all,” she said.
Orange and Cabonne council road safety officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said cocaine testing was vital.
“I think it's excellent that they've brought in cocaine, that they are testing for cocaine,” she said.
“There's been a lot of talk in road safety and policing circles that it's the drug they need to test for.
“This is an excellent step for road security, it's really going to make a few people take stock of themselves.
"If they are going to do drugs, they are going to be caught.”
Member for Orange Phil Donato backed the government’s move.
“I think it’s good,” he said.
“Ultimately we want to make our roads safer for drivers and we don’t want people driving around with illicit substances in their system.
“Unfortunately it [drugs] is prevalent in our community.
“It’s important police are equipped with the technology to detect persons driving with illicit drugs in their system.”
Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said drug affected drivers were causing accidents.
“Our data shows that drug affected drivers were a major contributing factor in 231 fatal crashes from 2012 to 2016 resulting in 250 deaths,” she said.
“We know that speeding, drink driving, driver distraction and fatigue also play a major role in deaths on our roads.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said preliminary information indicated that drug affected drivers were a key factor in 36 fatal accidents in the first half of 2017, leading to 42 deaths.
The maximum penalties for drug drivers will be two years’ imprisonment, fines of $5500 and licence disqualification for five years.