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NEWS: SMH - 24/08/07 'Party drugs take deadly road toll'

lil angel15

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Party drugs take deadly road toll
Richard Blackburn
August 24, 2007

ONE in four drivers involved in fatal accidents has illicit drugs - particularly amphetamines - in their system, according to the head of NSW traffic police.

Chief Superintendent John Hartley's comments came after police said on Tuesday drugs were found in the system of an alleged street racer whose car crashed, killing an elderly couple at St Marys on July 29. Manslaughter was added to drug and drink-driving charges faced by Robert James Borkowski, 37.

But Mr Hartley said there was no evidence to suggest drugs were part of street racing culture and believed the dance party culture was more to blame.

"In the past five years the prevalence of party drugs has come to the fore, with a whole range of cheaper illegal drugs that more people have access to, so you'd expect more people to be using drugs and driving motor vehicles," he said.

"Some drivers have not got the message that using both illegal and legal drugs before you drive can be fatal." Victorian police, who have been testing motorists for drugs since 2004, calculate four out of 10 drivers involved in fatal crashes have some form of drug in their systems.

Methylamphetamines are the most common drugs detected followed by cannabis and ecstasy. Victorian police say 90 per cent of positive drug tests are for methylamphetamines while 30 per cent are for two or more drugs. NSW has just one active roadside drug testing unit. Two more will start in December.

Random tests do not look for heroin, cocaine or prescription drugs including sedatives and antidepressants, which are believed to be responsible for half of drug-related fatal crashes.

Mr Hartley denied NSW had been slow to implement drug testing. Police deliberately held back until equipment was fail-safe, he said.

"In Victoria, there were a number of false positive [readings]. We didn't want to risk losing community support for the program."

SMH
 
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