TAC, Police Target Drug Drivers in State-Wide Crackdown

02 Jun 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: 2 June 2012

Drug drivers are the target of a graphic TAC campaign and a Victoria Police enforcement operation rolling out across Melbourne this weekend.

Recreational cannabis users are the advertising campaign's primary target, developed to highlight the dangers of taking drugs and driving.

Victoria Police are supporting the TAC campaign with an operation that will see major arterials in and around Melbourne saturated with police cars and booze and drug buses this weekend.

Despite Victorians achieving their fourth consecutive record-low road toll last year, around half of all killed or hospitalized drivers and riders were impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Drug use was of particular concern, with statistics showing that in 2010, 37% of drivers and riders who died on Victorian roads tested positive for illegal and legal drugs.

THC (cannabis) was most common, shown to be a factor in 18.5% of fatal crashes – almost double the figure for 2009 (9.9%).

TAC Head of Community Relations, Joe Calafiore, said the TAC had reinvented its drug driving campaign "Swap" from 2009 to specifically focus on cannabis use. New materials have been developed for radio, print, billboard and online use.

"Despite Victoria having one of the lowest self-reported rates of illicit drug use (13.7%) when compared nationally (14.7%), there are too many people out there who take drugs and drive," Mr Calafiore said.

"Our message is that illicit drug use is never OK – and getting in the car or on your motorbike after having taken drugs could have deadly consequences."

The shock ads that hit TV screens this week graphically highlight the impairments caused by cannabis.

In addition the TAC will flood radio, print, online and billboard space with its hard-hitting drug driving message.

The effects of cannabis use on a driver or rider can include:

• Slowed reaction times
• Distorted perceptions
• Poor concentration
• Inattention
• Fatigue.

The crash risk for a driver who is affected by cannabis is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of approximately 0.15%.

Victoria Police members drug test around 40,000 drivers each year.

Mr Calafiore said poly drug use – when one drug is used in conjunction with another – was a particularly worrying trend.

"Research tells us that most cannabis users consume alcohol at the same time which is really concerning given we know that use of one magnifies the effects of the other," he said.

"Our campaign aims to educate Victorians on the effects of drug use and how unpredictable they can be.

"If you choose to drive or ride after having taken drugs you really are out of your mind."

Mr Calafiore said in addition to cannabis, drugs including ecstasy, methamphetamines and other pharmaceutical drugs could have similar consequences when taken before driving or riding.