We told you this…
Roadside drug testing nearly worthless, expert says
As New Zealand gets set to rollout roadside drug testing, an Australian expert says it’s a scattergun approach that doesn’t reliably pick up impairment.
Wellington will next month become the first location to see police use a saliva test on drivers, with the rest of the country set to follow by mid-2026.
The tests will screen four key drugs: THC, which is found in cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA or ecstasy and cocaine.
Dr Michael White, an adjunct senior fellow at the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide who’s researched road accidents involving cannabis, says the tests are nearly worthless when it comes to picking up if someone is impaired.
One of the main issues he pointed out was that the tests detected the drugs but did not reliably assess impairment.
He said the problem was not just with the length of the detection window but how many people are actually impaired after taking drugs like cannabis.
“There’s a lot of research that says regular cannabis users are not impaired even if immediately after taking it so that produces a sort of questions of justice.
Let’s be very clear – No one wants drug drivers on our roads, but the tests are only testing for consumption of drugs, not impairment and with cannabis the most widely used illegal drug, fears are lots of Kiwis, especially Māori, are going to be targeted and busted not because they are too impaired to drive, but because they simply test positive for cannabis in their system.
Why will arresting a whole bunch of kiwis for cannabis in their system that doesn’t impair their driving a good thing?
If we are talking impairment, meth actually lifts your focus and attention – that’s why they give speed pills to the military – is this about impairment or a new drag net for Police to extend over public roads? At what point does this start becoming a civil liberties issue vs a safety issue, especially as it’s Police discretion as to who gets tested and who doesn’t?
We know Māori get targeted for being brown in a car all the time and with 30 000 alcohol breathalyser tests recently falsified, can we actually trust Police with this new power?
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We can protest until we are hoarse but we will never sway the holier than thou mind-set of those who are out to harm as many – using Luxon’s description – ‘bottom-feeders’ even if their method is so flawed and they have been told that time and again! More head-in-sand attitude problems for this CoC. When are they ever going to get something, just one important thing, right? They are like headless chooks running around chirping “look at me – look at me, aren’t I clever – cluck, cluck cluck.” I’m so bored with their constant changing of everything just to distract us from their main problem ie they have no damned idea what they are doing, no actual plan and no end target. FGS voters get rid of them before it’s too late!
And change them to who exactly? They are all screwed up in some way and most of them are beholding to their financial backers. As long as that’s true and we keep fighting over some imagined centre line between left and right they will keep doing it. It’s time to see them for what they truly are, corrupt traitors to us all.
The aim to keep drug impaired drivers off the road is a worthy pursuit, to do otherwise encourages an increase in road death carnage.
Wow I agree with part of what you are saying! It is a worthy pursuit to keep drug impaired drivers off the road. Don’t agree about the current means by which this is being attempted but that is another issue. Not sure if “to do otherwise encourages an increase in road death carnage” – I mean, it might do or might not. But to do nothing will achieve just that … no change.
Would like to know what happens to someone vehicle if they are deemed to be stoned? Unless you have a licenced driver as a passenger maybe?