❓ The Minister for Police and Emergency Services outlines the government's new proposals to target drug-impaired drivers, including penalties, roadside testing, vehicle key confiscation, and police training. The aim is to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.
AnsweredQoN 1303Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister inform the House about her recent announcement about detecting drug-impaired drivers and outline its expected effect on road safety in Western Australia? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question and for her continued support for road safety. I was very pleased earlier this week to announce the Government’s proposals to target drug-impaired drivers on our roads. This will form part of our new road safety strategy. People driving under the influence of illegal party-style drugs and other drugs represent a danger to themselves and other road users. As a result, the new penalties that we are planning for that offence will be very much in line with the penalties currently in place for drink driving. The new laws are planned for introduction in 2004 and will cover the gamut of illegal party drugs, including cannabis, speed and ecstasy, in addition to legally prescribed drugs that may impair driving or be dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Additionally, the new drugs will pave the way for electronic roadside testing equipment that will allow the police to conduct tests similar to those currently being conducted for the presence of alcohol. The new drug driving proposals will also include provisions that will allow the police to confiscate the vehicle keys from impaired drivers for periods of up to 24 hours, or until such time as the driver is deemed fit to drive. This will ensure that impaired drivers are removed from the road immediately and do not prove to be a continuing risk for other road users. There will also be penalties for non-compliance, as is the case for drivers who refuse a blood alcohol breath test. The Police Service is currently establishing further protocols and training initiatives for our police officers to improve awareness, knowledge and skills about drug-impaired driving. I am very pleased that, once again, our Government is at the forefront of demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question and for her continued support for road safety. I was very pleased earlier this week to announce the Government’s proposals to target drug-impaired drivers on our roads. This will form part of our new road safety strategy. People driving under the influence of illegal party-style drugs and other drugs represent a danger to themselves and other road users. As a result, the new penalties that we are planning for that offence will be very much in line with the penalties currently in place for drink driving. The new laws are planned for introduction in 2004 and will cover the gamut of illegal party drugs, including cannabis, speed and ecstasy, in addition to legally prescribed drugs that may impair driving or be dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Additionally, the new drugs will pave the way for electronic roadside testing equipment that will allow the police to conduct tests similar to those currently being conducted for the presence of alcohol. The new drug driving proposals will also include provisions that will allow the police to confiscate the vehicle keys from impaired drivers for periods of up to 24 hours, or until such time as the driver is deemed fit to drive. This will ensure that impaired drivers are removed from the road immediately and do not prove to be a continuing risk for other road users. There will also be penalties for non-compliance, as is the case for drivers who refuse a blood alcohol breath test. The Police Service is currently establishing further protocols and training initiatives for our police officers to improve awareness, knowledge and skills about drug-impaired driving. I am very pleased that, once again, our Government is at the forefront of demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question and for her continued support for road safety. I was very pleased earlier this week to announce the Government’s proposals to target drug-impaired drivers on our roads. This will form part of our new road safety strategy. People driving under the influence of illegal party-style drugs and other drugs represent a danger to themselves and other road users. As a result, the new penalties that we are planning for that offence will be very much in line with the penalties currently in place for drink driving. The new laws are planned for introduction in 2004 and will cover the gamut of illegal party drugs, including cannabis, speed and ecstasy, in addition to legally prescribed drugs that may impair driving or be dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Additionally, the new drugs will pave the way for electronic roadside testing equipment that will allow the police to conduct tests similar to those currently being conducted for the presence of alcohol. The new drug driving proposals will also include provisions that will allow the police to confiscate the vehicle keys from impaired drivers for periods of up to 24 hours, or until such time as the driver is deemed fit to drive. This will ensure that impaired drivers are removed from the road immediately and do not prove to be a continuing risk for other road users. There will also be penalties for non-compliance, as is the case for drivers who refuse a blood alcohol breath test. The Police Service is currently establishing further protocols and training initiatives for our police officers to improve awareness, knowledge and skills about drug-impaired driving. I am very pleased that, once again, our Government is at the forefront of demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question and for her continued support for road safety. I was very pleased earlier this week to announce the Government’s proposals to target drug-impaired drivers on our roads. This will form part of our new road safety strategy. People driving under the influence of illegal party-style drugs and other drugs represent a danger to themselves and other road users. As a result, the new penalties that we are planning for that offence will be very much in line with the penalties currently in place for drink driving. The new laws are planned for introduction in 2004 and will cover the gamut of illegal party drugs, including cannabis, speed and ecstasy, in addition to legally prescribed drugs that may impair driving or be dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Additionally, the new drugs will pave the way for electronic roadside testing equipment that will allow the police to conduct tests similar to those currently being conducted for the presence of alcohol. The new drug driving proposals will also include provisions that will allow the police to confiscate the vehicle keys from impaired drivers for periods of up to 24 hours, or until such time as the driver is deemed fit to drive. This will ensure that impaired drivers are removed from the road immediately and do not prove to be a continuing risk for other road users. There will also be penalties for non-compliance, as is the case for drivers who refuse a blood alcohol breath test. The Police Service is currently establishing further protocols and training initiatives for our police officers to improve awareness, knowledge and skills about drug-impaired driving. I am very pleased that, once again, our Government is at the forefront of demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question and for her continued support for road safety. I was very pleased earlier this week to announce the Government’s proposals to target drug-impaired drivers on our roads. This will form part of our new road safety strategy. People driving under the influence of illegal party-style drugs and other drugs represent a danger to themselves and other road users. As a result, the new penalties that we are planning for that offence will be very much in line with the penalties currently in place for drink driving. The new laws are planned for introduction in 2004 and will cover the gamut of illegal party drugs, including cannabis, speed and ecstasy, in addition to legally prescribed drugs that may impair driving or be dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Additionally, the new drugs will pave the way for electronic roadside testing equipment that will allow the police to conduct tests similar to those currently being conducted for the presence of alcohol. The new drug driving proposals will also include provisions that will allow the police to confiscate the vehicle keys from impaired drivers for periods of up to 24 hours, or until such time as the driver is deemed fit to drive. This will ensure that impaired drivers are removed from the road immediately and do not prove to be a continuing risk for other road users. There will also be penalties for non-compliance, as is the case for drivers who refuse a blood alcohol breath test. The Police Service is currently establishing further protocols and training initiatives for our police officers to improve awareness, knowledge and skills about drug-impaired driving. I am very pleased that, once again, our Government is at the forefront of demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
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