Pubdate: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 Source: West Australian (Australia) Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.thewest.com.au Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495 Author: Amanda Banks Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) ROAD SAFETY DRUG RISKS LIVES could be jeopardised under the State Government's cannabis law reform plan because there had been no consideration of road safety issues, the Opposition claims. Shadow transport minister Katie Hodson-Thomas said the reforms failed to take into account that cannabis use impaired driving skills and relaxed laws could lead to more people driving under the influence of the drug. But according to the Office of Road Safety, there is no evidence relaxing cannabis laws will lead to more people driving under the influence or have a negative impact on road safety. National Drug Research Institute senior research fellow Simon Lenton said while cannabis use did impair driving ability, there was no increase in serious and afatal accidents after similar drug law changes in South Australia. A task force of the Road Safety Council, which advises the State Government, is due to report on an investigation into the detection of drug drivers by mid-year. Task force chairman and UWA Injury Research Centre deputy director Rina Cercarelli said roadside saliva testing and penalties were being examined. Under existing legislation, driving under the influence of cannabis can be prosecuted under a model which encompasses driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Drivers are first subjected to a breath test and if that does not explain the level of observed impairment, a blood or urine sample can be taken to detect the presence of drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom