Police can now carry out roadside drug testing anywhere in New Zealand, with the nationwide rollout of oral fluid testing aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries caused by drug-impaired driving.
The expansion marks a significant change to road policing, giving officers powers similar to roadside alcohol breath testing by allowing them to screen drivers for the recent use of impairing drugs at any time and in any location.
The programme was first introduced in Wellington in late 2025 before expanding into several police districts. Following operational trials and officer training, the system is now operating across the country.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says drug-impaired driving contributes to around 30 percent of all road deaths in New Zealand, making the rollout an important step in improving road safety.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell says the nationwide rollout builds on lessons learned during the pilot phase and strengthens Police’s ability to detect drivers impaired by drugs before crashes occur.
Under the new process, Police use an oral fluid test that screens for four commonly used impairing drugs: THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine. If the initial roadside screening is positive, drivers must undergo a second screening test and provide a saliva sample for laboratory analysis.
A driver who returns two positive roadside screening tests is immediately prohibited from driving for 12 hours to reduce the immediate road safety risk. The laboratory then tests the saliva sample for up to 25 qualifying drugs before any infringement notice is issued.
Drivers who refuse to comply with roadside drug testing can also face penalties under the legislation. The law includes a medical defence for people who have taken prescribed medications lawfully, but this applies after laboratory testing rather than at the roadside.
Early results from the rollout have shown a roadside positivity rate of around 3.6 percent, a figure Police say is broadly comparable with roadside alcohol enforcement. While officials caution it is too early to identify long-term trends, they say testing will continue to help target impaired driving across the country.
Road safety advocates have welcomed the nationwide rollout, saying it closes a longstanding gap in enforcement by allowing Police to target drug-impaired driving in much the same way as drink driving.
Police are encouraging all motorists to avoid driving if they have consumed illegal drugs or any medication that could impair their ability to drive safely, reminding New Zealanders that the safest choice is always to drive unimpaired.
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