❓ The Minister for Police and Emergency Services outlines the government's plan to reduce the road toll, focusing on introducing legislation for random roadside drug testing, drawing parallels with the success of random breath testing for alcohol.
AnsweredQoN 727Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD TOLL REDUCTION
Can the minister please advise the house of the state government’s latest move to reduce the road toll? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
Can the minister please advise the house of the state government’s latest move to reduce the road toll? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and his real interest in road safety. The member has also drawn to my attention that in the gallery today are Councillor Bob Hall, who chairs the Mid West RoadWise Committee, and Councillor Terry O’Toole. I thank them for their local commitment to road safety. The government is very well aware that the program it has put in place has delivered a reduction in road deaths from 212 in 2000 to 162 last year. However, clearly that is not good enough. This year the number of road deaths has jumped up again. One of the areas in which we need to take action is people who use drugs and drive. We will be introducing into the Parliament this week legislation to allow for random roadside drug testing. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in getting the buses and the equipment, and in conducting all the training that needs to be done. People need to be very aware that it will be a serious offence to use drugs and drive. When the random roadside testing for drugs is introduced, people will be caught. When the random roadside testing for alcohol was introduced, we not only caught people who drink and drive but also changed the community attitude. People no longer consider it acceptable to drink and drive. We also need to make that change with regard to the use of illegal drugs. Clearly, a percentage of the community is using illegal drugs. We need to make it absolutely clear that people who use drugs and drive motor vehicles will be caught. The legislation and the administrative procedures behind it will ensure that anyone who uses drugs and drives will be caught and will pay the penalty.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question and his real interest in road safety. The member has also drawn to my attention that in the gallery today are Councillor Bob Hall, who chairs the Mid West RoadWise Committee, and Councillor Terry O’Toole. I thank them for their local commitment to road safety. The government is very well aware that the program it has put in place has delivered a reduction in road deaths from 212 in 2000 to 162 last year. However, clearly that is not good enough. This year the number of road deaths has jumped up again. One of the areas in which we need to take action is people who use drugs and drive. We will be introducing into the Parliament this week legislation to allow for random roadside drug testing. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in getting the buses and the equipment, and in conducting all the training that needs to be done. People need to be very aware that it will be a serious offence to use drugs and drive. When the random roadside testing for drugs is introduced, people will be caught. When the random roadside testing for alcohol was introduced, we not only caught people who drink and drive but also changed the community attitude. People no longer consider it acceptable to drink and drive. We also need to make that change with regard to the use of illegal drugs. Clearly, a percentage of the community is using illegal drugs. We need to make it absolutely clear that people who use drugs and drive motor vehicles will be caught. The legislation and the administrative procedures behind it will ensure that anyone who uses drugs and drives will be caught and will pay the penalty.
I thank the member for his question and his real interest in road safety. The member has also drawn to my attention that in the gallery today are Councillor Bob Hall, who chairs the Mid West RoadWise Committee, and Councillor Terry O’Toole. I thank them for their local commitment to road safety. The government is very well aware that the program it has put in place has delivered a reduction in road deaths from 212 in 2000 to 162 last year. However, clearly that is not good enough. This year the number of road deaths has jumped up again. One of the areas in which we need to take action is people who use drugs and drive. We will be introducing into the Parliament this week legislation to allow for random roadside drug testing. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in getting the buses and the equipment, and in conducting all the training that needs to be done. People need to be very aware that it will be a serious offence to use drugs and drive. When the random roadside testing for drugs is introduced, people will be caught. When the random roadside testing for alcohol was introduced, we not only caught people who drink and drive but also changed the community attitude. People no longer consider it acceptable to drink and drive. We also need to make that change with regard to the use of illegal drugs. Clearly, a percentage of the community is using illegal drugs. We need to make it absolutely clear that people who use drugs and drive motor vehicles will be caught. The legislation and the administrative procedures behind it will ensure that anyone who uses drugs and drives will be caught and will pay the penalty.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question and his real interest in road safety. The member has also drawn to my attention that in the gallery today are Councillor Bob Hall, who chairs the Mid West RoadWise Committee, and Councillor Terry O’Toole. I thank them for their local commitment to road safety. The government is very well aware that the program it has put in place has delivered a reduction in road deaths from 212 in 2000 to 162 last year. However, clearly that is not good enough. This year the number of road deaths has jumped up again. One of the areas in which we need to take action is people who use drugs and drive. We will be introducing into the Parliament this week legislation to allow for random roadside drug testing. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in getting the buses and the equipment, and in conducting all the training that needs to be done. People need to be very aware that it will be a serious offence to use drugs and drive. When the random roadside testing for drugs is introduced, people will be caught. When the random roadside testing for alcohol was introduced, we not only caught people who drink and drive but also changed the community attitude. People no longer consider it acceptable to drink and drive. We also need to make that change with regard to the use of illegal drugs. Clearly, a percentage of the community is using illegal drugs. We need to make it absolutely clear that people who use drugs and drive motor vehicles will be caught. The legislation and the administrative procedures behind it will ensure that anyone who uses drugs and drives will be caught and will pay the penalty.
I thank the member for his question and his real interest in road safety. The member has also drawn to my attention that in the gallery today are Councillor Bob Hall, who chairs the Mid West RoadWise Committee, and Councillor Terry O’Toole. I thank them for their local commitment to road safety. The government is very well aware that the program it has put in place has delivered a reduction in road deaths from 212 in 2000 to 162 last year. However, clearly that is not good enough. This year the number of road deaths has jumped up again. One of the areas in which we need to take action is people who use drugs and drive. We will be introducing into the Parliament this week legislation to allow for random roadside drug testing. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes in getting the buses and the equipment, and in conducting all the training that needs to be done. People need to be very aware that it will be a serious offence to use drugs and drive. When the random roadside testing for drugs is introduced, people will be caught. When the random roadside testing for alcohol was introduced, we not only caught people who drink and drive but also changed the community attitude. People no longer consider it acceptable to drink and drive. We also need to make that change with regard to the use of illegal drugs. Clearly, a percentage of the community is using illegal drugs. We need to make it absolutely clear that people who use drugs and drive motor vehicles will be caught. The legislation and the administrative procedures behind it will ensure that anyone who uses drugs and drives will be caught and will pay the penalty.
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