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Roadside drug testing starts later this year as part of the coalition Government’s road safety and law and order platforms.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown says alcohol and drugs were the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand, and figured in 200 of the 304 fatal crashes in 2022.
He says legislation passed by Labour government to allow roadside tests was unworkable because it required the tests to be at evidentiary standard rather than screening standard.
Legislation in line with the Australian approach will be introduced this year to give Police the power to randomly screen drivers for drugs at the roadside using oral fluid testing devices, similar to drink-driving enforcement.
Police will be given a target of 50,000 oral fluid tests a year.
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