Review of NSW Roadside drug testing

The Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing) Act 2006 commenced in December 2006 and authorised roadside drug testing in NSW, and the drug testing of any driver, motorcycle rider or supervising licence holder involved in a fatal crash. A review of the drug testing legislation was undertaken in 2008 to determine whether or not the new laws were meeting their policy objectives of detecting and deterring drug drivers. The review includes data on the number of tests conducted since commencement, the number of drivers who tested positive, the drugs which are commonly identified and summarises the court outcomes for drivers charged with one of the new drug driving offences. Attitudinal research commissioned by the RTA on drug drivers in 2008 indicates that the introduction of roadside drug testing has resulted in some change in drug driving attitudes and self reported behaviour since the introduction of the new laws. This review found that the new roadside drug testing regime has been implemented effectively and is operating as intended in detecting drug drivers and deterring drug drivers and potential drug drivers.