By YASEMIN TALAT
MELTON had the highest number of drug driving penalties issued in the West, new Victoria Police statistics have revealed.
A total of 57 drug driving penalty notices were issued to drivers caught driving under the influence of drugs over the 2012/2013 financial year.
Males were the main culprits and were responsible for 46 of the 57 penalty notices issued.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said drug driving was a major issue on Victorian roads.
“Drug driving is a significant issue which appears to be increasing across Victoria and we need to intervene now,” Asst Comm Hill said.
“We know impaired drivers are a major contributor to road trauma and have been engaged in a battle to remove them from our roads since motor vehicles first became an integral part of society.”
Victoria Police conduct around 3.5-4 million alcohol screening tests and 42,000 roadside drug tests a year in an attempt to combat the issue.
In November the state-wide operation, known as Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) resulted in one in 11 motorists test positive to driving with illicit drugs in their system.
Asst Comm Hill said police were astounded with the high number of motorists driving under the influence, despite warnings of the operation.
“That figure is nearly double the yearly average of detections,” Asst Comm Hill said.
“We need to change the culture where drivers believe it is okay to drive with any form of impairment,” he said.
Asst Comm Hill said police were listening to the community and working with road safety partners to introduce new legislation targeting impaired drivers.
“Whilst drink driving remains on of the biggest threats on our roads, we recognise drug driving is a significant issue and needs to be a major focus for Victoria Police and our road safety partners,” he said.
“That is why Victoria Police has made a commitment to expanding our drug testing capabilities and strengthening our drink driving enforcement capabilities.”
Asst Comm Hill said police were committed to their vision of zero deaths and injuries on our roads.
