Regional Victoria is becoming a drug driving hotspot new data shows, with two thirds of the state’s drug driving hotspots located outside the city.
Shadow Minister for Rural Roads Roma Britnell said it was deeply concerning that people are continuing to take risks associated with drug driving with more than 4600 drug drivers were detected statewide last year.
“There are now more drivers dying on our roads with drugs in their system than there are drivers dying with alcohol in their system,” Ms Britnell said.
“Drug drivers pose an enormous danger to themselves and to every other road user, but drug testing is inadequate and penalties are significantly less than for drink driving,” Ms Britnell said.
“These figures come at a time when Daniel Andrews is ripping $2.9 billion from the Transport Accident Commission and has cut roadside tests by 400,000 across the state.
“The Victorian Police Association has also released data that shows of the 900 new Police allocated over the past 3 years, only 77 officers have gone to regional Victoria (around 8.6%).”
Ms Britnell said rather than cutting funding, the Liberal Nationals three point plan for road safety would work towards reducing the number of deaths on our roads.
The Liberal Nationals would fund 1000 extra drug tests each week, increasing penalties for drug driving in line with drink driving and focus speed camera site selection on reducing road trauma, not raising revenue.
“I’ve met with local police who are crying out for resources, but instead Daniel Andrews is directing new police to the city and cutting funding for important roadside testing,” Ms Britnell said.
“For every week the government delays taking action, there will be more unnecessary and preventable deaths.”
