Drug-driving crackdown: Let’s do what it takes to make roads safer and save lives – Editorial

Transport Minister Chris Bishop (from left), Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell and Police Minister Mark Mitchell pictured at a Road Safety Awareness Week announcement. Photo / Kelly Makiha

Editorial

• Police released the names of 15 fatal crash victims leading into Road Safety Week, highlighting the road safety challenge.
• The awareness week, co-ordinated by Brake, aims to inspire community action and promote safety messages.
• Alcohol-related road deaths dropped significantly in 2024, attributed to increased breath and screening tests.

In a sobering precursor to this month’s Road Safety Week, police – in the space of two days – released the names of 15 fatal crash victims from incidents dating back to the end of January.

When you consider this is a mere fraction of the 121 road deaths from 115 fatal crashes so far this year, as of Friday, you can get an idea of the overwhelming task facing police and officials trying to save lives.

Road Safety Week, which ran from May 12 to 18, is an annual initiative co-ordinated by road safety charity Brake, which has been running since 2012. Brake says Road Safety Week aims to inspire communities to take action on road safety and promote life-saving messages during the week and beyond. “It also provides a focal point for professionals working in road safety to boost awareness and engagement in their work.”

Some of that awareness boosting was evident during the week, with Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Police Minister Mark Mitchell highlighting a sharp drop in alcohol-related road deaths in 2024, down from 92 in 2023 to 57.

They attributed this to the Government’s Road Policing Investment Programme, including a record number of breath and breath-screening tests conducted by police – more than four million in 2024. The numbers would suggest this effort has paid off.

The programme also includes roadside testing for drug-driving. In March, the Government passed legislation allowing police to conduct this testing. Australian states have been doing such testing for some time. The ministers said it was expected to be rolled out here this year.

The prospect has concerned some. The Greens and Te Pāti Māori opposed the bill, citing privacy concerns and potential impact on rangatahi (young) Māori. Meanwhile, medicinal cannabis users worry they’ll be penalised if they test positive despite no impairment.

Police said last month that operational discussions remained ongoing relating to a medical defence. “However, if a person is prescribed medicinal cannabis and they have a current and valid prescription and take their medicine as prescribed then it’s unlikely they’ll have breached the new drug-driving provisions.”

The Ministry of Transport says in 30% of road deaths, a driver was found to have drugs other than alcohol in their system. Before the new legislation, the ministry said on its website the law as it stood made it hard for police to carry out more tests that could deter drug-driving. “It is clear that we are not as effective as we could be in deterring drug-driving on our roads.”

Public concerns should be taken seriously and considered carefully, but it’s hard to argue against roadside drug testing when it’s clear it will save lives.

It’s also clear police need the resource and support to roll this out effectively – the success of the record number of breath tests is testament to that.

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