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Drug Driving in NSW: Recent Research & Initiatives

Explore Transport for NSW's initiatives on drug driving enforcement & education, with insights on attitudes, prevalence, and enforcement strategies.

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Drug Driving in NSW: Recent Research & Initiatives

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  1. Drug driving in NSW: evidence-gathering, enforcement and educationRalston Fernandes, Louise Higgins-Whitton,Evan Walker, Bernard Carlon, Alice Ma and Hassan Raisianzadeh

  2. Aim Provide a brief outline of recent Transport for NSW drug driving research and initiatives

  3. Drug driving enforcement in NSW Background Roadside oral fluid testing • Prescribed illicit drugs • 30,000 tests/ year since 2007, at visible, stationary operations Blood and urine testing • Police requested - drivers suspected DUI • Compulsory testing - drivers involved in fatal crashes • Sampling at hospital • Analysis for range of drugs

  4. Illicit drugs and the NSW Road Toll Illicit drugs and fatal crash involved drivers/riders (2010-2014) • Match of drug test results from drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes with TfNSW crash data • 14% of fatalities from 2010-2014 resulted from crashes involving a driver or rider with an illicit drug/s (cannabis, speed, ecstasy) present in their system • 245 fatalities from 219 fatal crashes • 87% drivers/ riders with a drug present in fatal crashes were male • Like all fatal crashes in NSW - concentrated in country urban and rural areas

  5. Illicit drugs and the NSW Road Toll

  6. Illicit drugs and the NSW Road Toll

  7. Attitudinal research TfNSW/ Taverner 2014/15 Illicit drug use and driving • Screened over 7,500 NSW drivers (aged 16+ years) • Mixed landline/ mobile telephone recruitment • ≈ 500 reported illicit drug use in last 12 months • Users completed detailed survey Related attitudinal research • Drink driving attitudes and behaviour • Pharmaceutical drug use and driving

  8. Illicit drug driving - prevalence • Overall prevalence, 2% of NSW drivers • More common among males, younger drivers and regular users • Driving with illicit drugs present 'unawares'? • 43% of all users reported ever driving within 6 hours of use

  9. Illicit drug use and drivingAttitudes and beliefs Safety and driving • Illicit drug drivers are less likely to see the risks of drug driving: • 44% believe the drugs they take don't affect their driving ability • Only 25% thought any of the drugs used posed a 'high' crash risk • Most (62%) do not believe that they take extra risks when DUI • More willing to be a passenger of a driver under the influence

  10. Illicit drug use and drivingAttitudes and beliefs Social unacceptability • Many illicit drug drivers (80%) would feel ashamed and embarrassed if caught drugdriving, slightly less than if caught drink driving (86%) Understanding of enforcement • Users know drug driving is illegal (93%) and are aware of roadside (87%) and blood/urine tests (88%) - but few have been tested • Variation in how long users think drugs can be detected (1hr - 7+ days) and the type of drugs detected roadside

  11. Illicit drug use and drivingEnforcement Being caught driving after drug use • Around half (49%) thought it likely a drug driver would be caught, compared to 70% who thought it likely a drink driver would be caught • Key reasons drug users think they are unlikely to be caught: • Police don't test very often • Not many Police cars/ vans can test for drugs • Drivers on drugs don't attract Police attention • Police don't test in the country • Some users (44%) were not sure of the legal consequences of driving after drug use

  12. Drug driving initiatives • Enforcement • Communications • Data and detailed analysis • Policy and legislative review Governance • Whole of government to enable cross-agency discussion • Monitor delivery of initiatives • Consultation group including: • NSW Police • NSW Health • Justice

  13. Enhance roadside enforcement Increase unpredictability and reach of roadside testing • Anytime, anywhere - stationary and 'mobile' approach • 97,000 tests/ year by 2017 • 'Drugwipe' in Police patrol vehicles • 'Mobile' patrols and stationary operations (bus/van) • Secondary devices in additional vans and police stations

  14. Increase awareness and general deterrence First NSW public campaign under development • Enforcement based: • Maximise deterrence • Raise public awareness • Concept testing has reinforced need to: • Focus on increased number/ mobility of Police tests • Avoid unclear claims/ terminology • Provide 'baseline' information about testing • Outline penalties and consequences of being caught

  15. Improve communications Communication strategy • Communication needs extend beyond enforcement messages • Longer term strategy: • Challenge the belief that drugs do not impair driving • Communicate crash risks and consequences Education resources • Partnership with drug and alcohol education expert • Enhancements to high school education materials • More interactive resources • Aimed at Stages 5 and 6 (Years 9-12)

  16. Build research capacity with NSW Police Impaired Driving Research Unit • TfNSW five year funding partnership • Support drug driving prosecutions and research • Detailed research planning underway Functions • Provide advice/ evidence in court or coronial drug driving cases • Analyse offence data and test results for emerging trends • Integrate test results for illicit and other drugs with crash data • Monitor research in drug driving technology and testing • Contribute to TfNSW led policy and research projects

  17. Contact Details Ralston Fernandes Manager, Safer People Ralston.Fernandes@transport.nsw.gov.au

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