NZ police monitor roadside saliva tests for drugs

New Zealand police will closely watch a world-first programme being launched in Victoria where motorists face random roadside saliva testing for illegal drugs.

Victoria police say they expect to screen about 9000 drivers in the 12-month drug testing trial, which starts on December 13.

The tests, which detect cannabis and methamphetamine-based party drugs, aim to cut down on the number of drug-affected motorists dying on the roads, says the state's Police Minister, Andre Haermeyer.

"Drug driving can kill," he said.

"Last year, a total of 31 per cent of motorists killed in Victoria tested positive to drugs other than alcohol."

New Zealand acting road policing manager Inspector John Kelly said police here knew about the trial but had no plans to introduce the tests until their accuracy was proven.

"You will find that is one of the reasons why Victoria is having the trial. One of the things they will be looking at is the accuracy."

Mr Kelly said police here often followed overseas trends when it came to new technology.

This year, New Zealand switched to hidden cameras after they were used in Victoria.

News of the roadside tests in Victoria came after a national survey revealed one in four men under the age of 25 said they had driven a car after taking an illicit drug.

The survey of about 2000 drivers by car insurer AAMI also found 90 per cent of respondents supported the random testing of drivers for drugs such as Ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis and speed.

Mr Haermeyer said that initially people who attended nightclubs and dance parties would be the targets of the tests.

Those in the long-haul trucking industry taking drugs to meet deadlines would also be targeted.

Mr Haermeyer said police would begin with one drug bus.

"As I say, this is a world first," he said. "We're not sort of diving in head first. We are treading fairly cautiously. Ultimately experience will tell us if we need more of these or not."

Motorists pulled over for a drug test will be required to place a small absorbent pad on their tongues for a few seconds.

They will then need to wait about five minutes before learning the result of the test, which does not detect the presence of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications such as cold and flu tablets.

If they test positive for drugs, motorists will be taken inside a drug bus for a second test and asked to provide two more saliva samples.

One of the samples will be kept by the motorist; the second will be used for further on-the-spot analysis.

A second positive test will be sent to a laboratory for verification.

People who return positive laboratory results will incur a A$307 ($340) fine and lose three licence points.

If the offence progresses to court, the maximum penalty for a first offence will be A$614 and a three-month cancellation of licence.

New South Wales will launch a 12-month trial of roadside drug testing in the second half of next year.

- STAFF REPORTER, AAP