Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2006
Source: Courier-Mail, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Queensland Newspapers
Contact: http://thecouriermail.com.au/extras/forms/letter.htm
Website: http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/98
Author: Rosanne Barrett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

TOUGHER STAND ON LAWS

RANDOM roadside drug tests would be in place within six  months under
a Coalition government. But Transport and  Main Roads Minister Paul
Lucas said there was already a  12-month trial of random drug-testing
and other  Coalition initiatives were already in place.

Launching the Safer Roads policy on the Sunshine Coast  yesterday,
Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona  Simpson said they would have a
"zero tolerance" policy  towards marijuana, ecstasy and
amphetamines.

"If you're driving un the road (affected by drugs), you  deserve to
have your licence taken off you and get off  the road," she said.

"People are excusing what they are doing supposedly in  the name of
recreational drug use and they are killing  people."

Under the testing regime, drivers who tested positive  to a roadside
test and a confirmation test would  immediately have their licences
suspended.

If a second test was confirmed, the driver would lost  their licence
under the same penalty range as people  convicted of driving under the
influence: A range from  three to six months.

Ms Simpson appeared confused at times with the  penalties, eventually
outlining a progressive system of  punishments for
drug-driving.

"There is a range of penalties in place we what we're  saying is if
you're driving dangerously when you're  drug-affected, you will lose
your license," she said.

Deputy Liberal leader Mark McArdle later said penalties  would be
dependent on the level of impairment, but the  Coalition would
investigate tougher penalties in the  next term.

Also included in the Safer Roads policy was a $14.5  million
commitment over three years to establish a  roving fleet of motor
vehicle simulators to tour  Queensland high schools, a graduating
licensing system  for young drivers and establishing a trial of
flashing  lights around school safety zones.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas said the  Coalition was
"behind the eight ball" with their  policy.

"Drugs tested will be heroin, cocaine, amphetamine type  substances,
including MDMA or ecstasy as well as  cannabis and methyl
amphetamines," Mr Lucas said.

"Heroin, cocaine and ecstasy have not been tested for  trials in other
states, so Queensland is leading the  field."

He said the Road Safety Summit and their recently  announced plan for
young drivers demonstrated the  Government's commitment to safety.

Citizens Against Road Slaughter (CARS) founder Phyl den  Ronden said
any measures to reduce road crashes would  be welcome.

Random drug-testing initiatives were included in a 1999  report by the
Travelsafe Parliamentary committee, but  have yet to be
implemented.

Mr Seeney was filling in while Coalition leader  Lawrence Springborg
was at the funeral of his  father-in-law, who died suddenly last week. 
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath