New tougher drug driving law

New infringements and tougher penalties for drivers found to be impaired by drugs came into effect on 11 March.

The new law introduces a schedule of 25 qualifying drugs. The drugs listed in Schedule 5 of the act include some commonly prescribed drugs, such as Codine, Diasepam, Tramadol and Zopliclone. Ninety three people were killed in crashes in 2021 where a driver was found to have the presence of drugs – representing nearly a third of all fatalities that year.

Under the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2022, drugs that impair the ability to drive safely have been ring-fenced by legislation and tougher penalties, Police Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien says.

“This is a significant step against reducing the harm caused on our roads by drug driving,” he says.

“Data collected from fatal crashes highlights the presence of impairing drugs in a driver’s blood is now generally about equal to alcohol – this has more than doubled since 2015.

“Police are ready to enforce these new laws and we will continue to use our current practice to identify drivers using drugs by carrying out compulsory impairment tests,”

Assistant Commissioner O’Brien says. If a driver fails this test, they will be required to give an evidential blood test for analysis which can determine what enforcement action is deemed appropriate for the offence.

Police undertook a procurement process to identify a suitable Oral Fluid Testing device to carry out random roadside drug driving testing. After rigorous testing, however, it was found that there was no device available to meet the criteria and intent of the legislation.

“Random roadside drug driving testing will still be implemented following amendments made to the legislation, which is likely to include a confirmatory evidential laboratory test similar to how devices are used in other jurisdictions including Australia,” the Assistant Commissioner says.

“The goal of the legislation is to detect and deter drug-driving that potentially impacts the safety of everyone on our roads.

“Partnering agencies are working together on implementing the Road to Zero strategy and ultimately, we want to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries that happens on our roads causing devastation to families and whanau,” he says.

Q: Who is your favourite All Black or Black Fern and why do you like them?

J’ville history to be archived

By Frank Neill

Johnsonville’s history will be archived, thanks to a successful grant application the Johnsonville Community Association (JCA) has made to the Johnsonville Charitable Trust, Anne Brodie said in her report on the JCA to the March Johnsonville Community Liaison meeting.

Judy Siers, who is the Onslow Historical Society’s President, will carry out the archival work on the Johnsonville Historical Collection.

JCA member Claire Bibby has done a lot work relating to the Johnsonville Children’s Memorial Park and surrounding garden.

The Retter Memorial has been moved to the memorial park.

Ms Bibby and a Retter descendant met with Martin Lehner from the Wellington City Council to discuss landscaping of the memorial garden. Agreement was reached on the type of plants that can be used.

The JCA has changed when it meets. It now meets on the second Tuesday of each month from February to November at 7:30pm at the Johnsonville Community Centre.