Drug driving
Drug driving is a growing problem on our roads. If you're driving or riding while under the influence of drugs you're a danger to yourself and everyone else on the roads.
Drug driving. It will cost you.
If you are caught drug driving at a minimum you will face:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- You will need to complete a Drug Driver Program in the first three months of your suspension period or your licence/learner permit will be cancelled.
Drug driving. It will cost you.
If you are caught drug driving at a minimum you will face:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- You will need to complete a Drug Driver Program in the first three months of your suspension period or your licence/learner permit will be cancelled.
Find out more about drug driving penalties
- In the last five years approximately 41% of all drivers and motorcyclists killed who were tested, had drugs in their system, with cannabis and stimulants most commonly detected.
- One in four Victorians who use drugs admit to driving under the influence of recreational drugs.
- 19% of driver and rider fatalities in 2018 had stimulants in their system and 10.3% had cannabis in their system.
- Victoria Police has increased drug testing from 40,000 tests in 2014 to 150,000 tests in 2019
- Drug tests are conducted from booze/drug buses, marked and unmarked patrol cars, police motorcycles and mobile intercepts.
Why drug driving is dangerous
If you’re driving whilst under the influence of illicit or prescription drugs you are a risk to yourself and others on the roads. The side effects of drugs, both illicit and prescription, can impair your ability to drive safely.
Roadside drug testing targets illicit drug use, however it’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can impact your driving too. If you're on medication and not sure whether your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
While the number of people who have died drink driving has dropped there has been an increase in the number of drivers dying with drugs in their system.
How illicit drugs affect driving
There are different ways that drugs will affect your driving ability, and if you combine drugs these affects can become even more dangerous.
- Cannabis - can slow down a person's reaction time, distort perception of speed and distance and reduce concentration and coordination when driving.
- Heroin - users usually will be drowsy for several hours; mental function is clouded; heart function slows; and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be life-threatening. Spatial awareness and cognitive impairment can impact the driver’s ability to perform the complex task of driving.
- Methamphetamine (ICE), ecstasy, cocaine - can lead to over-confidence, rash decision making and risk taking. Insomnia cause by ICE and cocaine use can affect a driver's reflex and concentration.
- Hallucinogens - affect hearing and sight as well as the perception of time, distance and movement, and they can make a person sense things that don't exist.
- Multiple drug use - using a combination of drugs can lead to extreme and varied effects such as dramatically slowed reaction times, visual distortion, inability to judge speeds and distances, and increased risk taking.
What you can do to stay safe
If you intend to drive, the safest option is to have no alcohol or other drugs in your system. There is no safe level of drug use when driving. Use of any drug always carries some risk.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in their system. If you need to go somewhere it’s best to organise someone else to drive or to organise alternate transport rather than risk driving.
Visit The Alcohol and Drug Foundation website for more information on specific drugs and their effect on driving.
If you or someone you know needs support:
Directline: 1800 888 236
Family Drug Support: 1300 368 186
Prescription medications and driving
What to do
- always ask if it is safe to drive on your medication
- read labels to see if your medication may affect your driving
- talk with your doctor or pharmacists to see how medications may affect your driving
- ask if there is a medicine that may be less impairing
- be aware medicines may affect your driving more when you first start taking them.
- don't stop medication or alter your dose without speaking to your doctor first
- don't drink alcohol if you are planning to drive
- use alternative transport such as public transport or ride share services.
How can medicines affect driving?
Recent research highlights older drivers use medication for their health, however the use of these medications can often and unknowingly, impair driving ability.
A high proportion of ageing driver fatalities involve multiple vehicle accidents, with many occurring at intersections. Complex traffic situations become more demanding, particularly in combination with deteriorating hearing, vision, reaction time and/or mobility.
The impairing effect of some medicines can be equivalent to a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of 0.05% or more so it’s important to understand how your medicines affect your ability to drive.
Common side effects of some medications are:
- drowsiness or tiredness
- dizziness or feeling faint
- blurred vision
- shakiness or unsteadiness
- confusion and poor concentration
- slower reaction time
- nausea
- mood changes and anxiety
Medicines that can impair driving
| Commonly used for | Type of medicine | Generic name | Example brand name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety, sleep problems | Benzodiazepines | Alprazolam | Xanax |
| Oxazepam | Serepax | ||
| Anxiety, sleep problems, epilepsy | Diazepam | Valium | |
| Clonazepam | Rivotril | ||
| Sleep problems | Other sleep medicines | Nitrazepam | Mogadon |
| Zolpidem | Stilnox | ||
| Temazepam | Temaze | ||
| Depression, bladder problems, migraine and/or nerve pain | Tricyclic antidepressants | Amitriptyline | Endep |
| Doxepin | Deptran | ||
| Depression, anxiety | Monoamine oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors | Moclobemide | Aurorix |
| Depression, anxiety | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) | Escitalopram | Lerxapro |
| Fluoxetine | Prozac | ||
| Sertraline | Zoloft | ||
| Depression | Other antidepressants | Mirtazapine | Avanza |
| Psychotic conditions (eg schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder) | Antipsychotics | Haloperidol | Serenace |
| Olanzapine | Zyprexa | ||
| Quetiapine | Seroquel | ||
| Allergies, cough, cold and flu symptoms | Sedating antihistamines | Chlorpheniramine | Codral original Cold and Flu, Cough Day and Night capsules |
| Brompheniramine | Demazine Cough and cold Relief Elixir | ||
| Allergies, itchiness, motion sickness, sedation | Promethazine | Phenergan | |
| Allergies, cough, cold and flu symptoms, sleep problems | Diphenhydramine | Benadryl for the Family original syrup, Snuzaid | |
| Doxylamine | Dozile | ||
| Hay fever, skin rash | Less sedating antihistamines | Cetirizine | Zyrtec |
| Fexofenadine | Telfast | ||
| Loratadine | Claratyne | ||
| Epilepsy | Anticonvulsants | Primidone | Mysoline |
| Pain relief | Opioids | Codeine | Nurofen Plus, Panadeine Forte |
| Oxycodone | Oxycontin | ||
| Morphine | Anamorph |
Note. The medicines listed above give generic examples and brand names for each type of medicine but does not cover all medicines that can impair your driving. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more advice.
You can be given a penalty for:
- failing a roadside drug test
- driving while impaired by a drug
- refusing to undertake a roadside drug test and/or impairment test by Victoria Police.
The minimum penalties for drug driving are:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- A requirement to complete a behaviour change program in order to become relicensed. The program includes screening and assessment for drug problems and referral to treatment services as required.
The penalties will increase if you are caught more than once, or if other offences are detected. You could lose your licence for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in fines. Victoria Police also have the power to impound your vehicle for some offences. Find out more about vehicle impoundment on the VicRoads website.
You can read more about penalties on the VicRoads website
The penalties for drug driving
You can be given a penalty for:
- failing a roadside drug test
- driving while impaired by a drug
- refusing to undertake a roadside drug test and/or impairment test by Victoria Police.
The minimum penalties for drug driving are:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- A requirement to complete a behaviour change program in order to become relicensed. The program includes screening and assessment for drug problems and referral to treatment services as required.
The penalties will increase if you are caught more than once, or if other offences are detected. You could lose your licence for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in fines. Victoria Police also have the power to impound your vehicle for some offences. Find out more about vehicle impoundment on the VicRoads website.
You can read more about penalties on the VicRoads website
A combined drink and drug-driving offence has higher penalties than an individual drink-driving or drug-driving offence.
You can be charged with combined drink & drug-driving whether the offence was detected at the roadside (through a saliva screening test) or later through a blood or urine sample.
Find out more about the penalties on the VicRoads website.
Are there additional penalties if I am also caught drink driving?
A combined drink and drug-driving offence has higher penalties than an individual drink-driving or drug-driving offence.
You can be charged with combined drink & drug-driving whether the offence was detected at the roadside (through a saliva screening test) or later through a blood or urine sample.
Find out more about the penalties on the VicRoads website.
- THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the active component in cannabis
- Methamphetamine, which is found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’, and ‘crystal meth’
- MDMA, which is known as ecstasy.
What drugs are detected in roadside drug tests?
- THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the active component in cannabis
- Methamphetamine, which is found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’, and ‘crystal meth’
- MDMA, which is known as ecstasy.
If Victoria Police believe that you are driving while impaired they may ask you to complete a Standard Impairment Test. You may then be asked undertake a blood test which will detect any substances that you have used. There is a separate charge for driving while impaired and it also carries severe penalties.
What about drugs that aren’t detected by the roadside test?
If Victoria Police believe that you are driving while impaired they may ask you to complete a Standard Impairment Test. You may then be asked undertake a blood test which will detect any substances that you have used. There is a separate charge for driving while impaired and it also carries severe penalties.
Victoria Police have the right to pull drivers over at any time and test their saliva for traces of illicit drugs including THC - the active component in cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy. You can be tested by any Victoria Police officers including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.
Drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds.
The procedure for random roadside drug testing is:
- drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds
- the sample is analysed at the roadside, this takes about 3 minutes
- drivers with a positive result are asked to undertake a further test
- if this test is also positive, the sample is sent to a laboratory for confirmation
- the results of this lab test form the basis for charging the driver.
Any driver may be asked to take a saliva test at any time. The saliva tests do not detect prescription drugs or common medications such as cold and flu tablets.
How do random roadside drug tests work?
Victoria Police have the right to pull drivers over at any time and test their saliva for traces of illicit drugs including THC - the active component in cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy. You can be tested by any Victoria Police officers including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.
Drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds.
The procedure for random roadside drug testing is:
- drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds
- the sample is analysed at the roadside, this takes about 3 minutes
- drivers with a positive result are asked to undertake a further test
- if this test is also positive, the sample is sent to a laboratory for confirmation
- the results of this lab test form the basis for charging the driver.
Any driver may be asked to take a saliva test at any time. The saliva tests do not detect prescription drugs or common medications such as cold and flu tablets.
It’s hard to know for sure how long drugs will remain in your system, it will vary from person to person and will depend on how much and which drug you have consumed. This is why if you have taken drugs you should not drive.
The tests work to detect drugs in saliva for several hours after use.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in your system. For example, if you take an illicit drug you could feel the high for a few hours, and then ‘come down’ quite some time later and feel drowsy. This is a side-effect of the drugs leaving your system after the high, and your driving ability will still be impaired.
How long after using an illicit drug will it take for me to provide a negative result?
It’s hard to know for sure how long drugs will remain in your system, it will vary from person to person and will depend on how much and which drug you have consumed. This is why if you have taken drugs you should not drive.
The tests work to detect drugs in saliva for several hours after use.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in your system. For example, if you take an illicit drug you could feel the high for a few hours, and then ‘come down’ quite some time later and feel drowsy. This is a side-effect of the drugs leaving your system after the high, and your driving ability will still be impaired.
It is an offence to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or to drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is legal or illicit. A positive result for an oral fluid test indicates that there has been recent drug use. Drug concentrations can only be determined through a blood sample.
In countries such as Canada where they can detect concentration levels the testing is a lot more invasive and has to be done through a blood sample. By using oral fluid testing Victoria Police is able to detect recent illicit drug use in a quick (<5min) and non-invasive way.
There are two types of charges for drug use while driving, these are:
- Exceed PCD (oral fluid).This offence is when the oral fluid sample of a driver simply contains this illicit substance. This results in 6-month suspension for a first offence.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (Impairment assessment and blood sample) Certificate of Drug effect by approved expert. 12 months disqualification of licence.
Why isn't the law built around people being impaired by drugs rather than drugs still being in a person's system?
It is an offence to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or to drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is legal or illicit. A positive result for an oral fluid test indicates that there has been recent drug use. Drug concentrations can only be determined through a blood sample.
In countries such as Canada where they can detect concentration levels the testing is a lot more invasive and has to be done through a blood sample. By using oral fluid testing Victoria Police is able to detect recent illicit drug use in a quick (<5min) and non-invasive way.
There are two types of charges for drug use while driving, these are:
- Exceed PCD (oral fluid).This offence is when the oral fluid sample of a driver simply contains this illicit substance. This results in 6-month suspension for a first offence.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (Impairment assessment and blood sample) Certificate of Drug effect by approved expert. 12 months disqualification of licence.
What about prescription medication?
It’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can be dangerous too. If you’re on medication and not sure if your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Victoria’s new SafeScript service is also available for people concerned about their use of prescription medicines.
Find out more information on prescription medication and driving
- Funding has been increased for roadside drug testing to allow Victoria Police to conduct up to 150,000 tests per year.
- After a successful trial one person Victoria Police stations can now conduct drug tests. Prior to the trial, drug testing was done predominately by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). More Victoria Police officers in more locations are now able to conduct roadside drug tests.
- Findings from the Monash University Accident Research Centre show the expansion in roadside drug testing in Victoria has saved more than 30 lives and almost 80 serious injuries on the state’s roads every year.
- Funding has been increased for roadside drug testing to allow Victoria Police to conduct up to 150,000 tests per year.
- After a successful trial one person Victoria Police stations can now conduct drug tests. Prior to the trial, drug testing was done predominately by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). More Victoria Police officers in more locations are now able to conduct roadside drug tests.
- Findings from the Monash University Accident Research Centre show the expansion in roadside drug testing in Victoria has saved more than 30 lives and almost 80 serious injuries on the state’s roads every year.
- The report found that maintaining the increase to 100,000 drug tests per annum had prevented more than 33 fatalities and nearly 80 serious injuries each year from 2016-2018.
- The study also highlights the times and days when alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamine are most likely to be present in drivers who are involved in crashes, and a breakdown of the levels of drugs and alcohol detected.
- Drink and drug driving are among the most significant factors in deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads. In the past five years, 18 per cent of drivers and motorcyclists killed in Victoria had illegal blood alcohol levels, and 41 per cent had drugs, both legal and illegal, in their system.
- In the last five years approximately 41% of all drivers and motorcyclists killed who were tested, had drugs in their system, with cannabis and stimulants most commonly detected.
- One in four Victorians who use drugs admit to driving under the influence of recreational drugs.
- 19% of driver and rider fatalities in 2018 had stimulants in their system and 10.3% had cannabis in their system.
- Victoria Police has increased drug testing from 40,000 tests in 2014 to 150,000 tests in 2019
- Drug tests are conducted from booze/drug buses, marked and unmarked patrol cars, police motorcycles and mobile intercepts.
Why drug driving is dangerous
If you’re driving whilst under the influence of illicit or prescription drugs you are a risk to yourself and others on the roads. The side effects of drugs, both illicit and prescription, can impair your ability to drive safely.
Roadside drug testing targets illicit drug use, however it’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can impact your driving too. If you're on medication and not sure whether your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
While the number of people who have died drink driving has dropped there has been an increase in the number of drivers dying with drugs in their system.
How illicit drugs affect driving
There are different ways that drugs will affect your driving ability, and if you combine drugs these affects can become even more dangerous.
- Cannabis - can slow down a person's reaction time, distort perception of speed and distance and reduce concentration and coordination when driving.
- Heroin - users usually will be drowsy for several hours; mental function is clouded; heart function slows; and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be life-threatening. Spatial awareness and cognitive impairment can impact the driver’s ability to perform the complex task of driving.
- Methamphetamine (ICE), ecstasy, cocaine - can lead to over-confidence, rash decision making and risk taking. Insomnia cause by ICE and cocaine use can affect a driver's reflex and concentration.
- Hallucinogens - affect hearing and sight as well as the perception of time, distance and movement, and they can make a person sense things that don't exist.
- Multiple drug use - using a combination of drugs can lead to extreme and varied effects such as dramatically slowed reaction times, visual distortion, inability to judge speeds and distances, and increased risk taking.
What you can do to stay safe
If you intend to drive, the safest option is to have no alcohol or other drugs in your system. There is no safe level of drug use when driving. Use of any drug always carries some risk.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in their system. If you need to go somewhere it’s best to organise someone else to drive or to organise alternate transport rather than risk driving.
Visit The Alcohol and Drug Foundation website for more information on specific drugs and their effect on driving.
If you or someone you know needs support:
Directline: 1800 888 236
Family Drug Support: 1300 368 186
Prescription medications and driving
What to do
- always ask if it is safe to drive on your medication
- read labels to see if your medication may affect your driving
- talk with your doctor or pharmacists to see how medications may affect your driving
- ask if there is a medicine that may be less impairing
- be aware medicines may affect your driving more when you first start taking them.
- don't stop medication or alter your dose without speaking to your doctor first
- don't drink alcohol if you are planning to drive
- use alternative transport such as public transport or ride share services.
How can medicines affect driving?
Recent research highlights older drivers use medication for their health, however the use of these medications can often and unknowingly, impair driving ability.
A high proportion of ageing driver fatalities involve multiple vehicle accidents, with many occurring at intersections. Complex traffic situations become more demanding, particularly in combination with deteriorating hearing, vision, reaction time and/or mobility.
The impairing effect of some medicines can be equivalent to a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of 0.05% or more so it’s important to understand how your medicines affect your ability to drive.
Common side effects of some medications are:
- drowsiness or tiredness
- dizziness or feeling faint
- blurred vision
- shakiness or unsteadiness
- confusion and poor concentration
- slower reaction time
- nausea
- mood changes and anxiety
Medicines that can impair driving
| Commonly used for | Type of medicine | Generic name | Example brand name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety, sleep problems | Benzodiazepines | Alprazolam | Xanax |
| Oxazepam | Serepax | ||
| Anxiety, sleep problems, epilepsy | Diazepam | Valium | |
| Clonazepam | Rivotril | ||
| Sleep problems | Other sleep medicines | Nitrazepam | Mogadon |
| Zolpidem | Stilnox | ||
| Temazepam | Temaze | ||
| Depression, bladder problems, migraine and/or nerve pain | Tricyclic antidepressants | Amitriptyline | Endep |
| Doxepin | Deptran | ||
| Depression, anxiety | Monoamine oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors | Moclobemide | Aurorix |
| Depression, anxiety | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) | Escitalopram | Lerxapro |
| Fluoxetine | Prozac | ||
| Sertraline | Zoloft | ||
| Depression | Other antidepressants | Mirtazapine | Avanza |
| Psychotic conditions (eg schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder) | Antipsychotics | Haloperidol | Serenace |
| Olanzapine | Zyprexa | ||
| Quetiapine | Seroquel | ||
| Allergies, cough, cold and flu symptoms | Sedating antihistamines | Chlorpheniramine | Codral original Cold and Flu, Cough Day and Night capsules |
| Brompheniramine | Demazine Cough and cold Relief Elixir | ||
| Allergies, itchiness, motion sickness, sedation | Promethazine | Phenergan | |
| Allergies, cough, cold and flu symptoms, sleep problems | Diphenhydramine | Benadryl for the Family original syrup, Snuzaid | |
| Doxylamine | Dozile | ||
| Hay fever, skin rash | Less sedating antihistamines | Cetirizine | Zyrtec |
| Fexofenadine | Telfast | ||
| Loratadine | Claratyne | ||
| Epilepsy | Anticonvulsants | Primidone | Mysoline |
| Pain relief | Opioids | Codeine | Nurofen Plus, Panadeine Forte |
| Oxycodone | Oxycontin | ||
| Morphine | Anamorph |
Note. The medicines listed above give generic examples and brand names for each type of medicine but does not cover all medicines that can impair your driving. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more advice.
You can be given a penalty for:
- failing a roadside drug test
- driving while impaired by a drug
- refusing to undertake a roadside drug test and/or impairment test by Victoria Police.
The minimum penalties for drug driving are:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- A requirement to complete a behaviour change program in order to become relicensed. The program includes screening and assessment for drug problems and referral to treatment services as required.
The penalties will increase if you are caught more than once, or if other offences are detected. You could lose your licence for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in fines. Victoria Police also have the power to impound your vehicle for some offences. Find out more about vehicle impoundment on the VicRoads website.
You can read more about penalties on the VicRoads website
The penalties for drug driving
You can be given a penalty for:
- failing a roadside drug test
- driving while impaired by a drug
- refusing to undertake a roadside drug test and/or impairment test by Victoria Police.
The minimum penalties for drug driving are:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- A requirement to complete a behaviour change program in order to become relicensed. The program includes screening and assessment for drug problems and referral to treatment services as required.
The penalties will increase if you are caught more than once, or if other offences are detected. You could lose your licence for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in fines. Victoria Police also have the power to impound your vehicle for some offences. Find out more about vehicle impoundment on the VicRoads website.
You can read more about penalties on the VicRoads website
A combined drink and drug-driving offence has higher penalties than an individual drink-driving or drug-driving offence.
You can be charged with combined drink & drug-driving whether the offence was detected at the roadside (through a saliva screening test) or later through a blood or urine sample.
Find out more about the penalties on the VicRoads website.
Are there additional penalties if I am also caught drink driving?
A combined drink and drug-driving offence has higher penalties than an individual drink-driving or drug-driving offence.
You can be charged with combined drink & drug-driving whether the offence was detected at the roadside (through a saliva screening test) or later through a blood or urine sample.
Find out more about the penalties on the VicRoads website.
- THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the active component in cannabis
- Methamphetamine, which is found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’, and ‘crystal meth’
- MDMA, which is known as ecstasy.
What drugs are detected in roadside drug tests?
- THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the active component in cannabis
- Methamphetamine, which is found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’, and ‘crystal meth’
- MDMA, which is known as ecstasy.
If Victoria Police believe that you are driving while impaired they may ask you to complete a Standard Impairment Test. You may then be asked undertake a blood test which will detect any substances that you have used. There is a separate charge for driving while impaired and it also carries severe penalties.
What about drugs that aren’t detected by the roadside test?
If Victoria Police believe that you are driving while impaired they may ask you to complete a Standard Impairment Test. You may then be asked undertake a blood test which will detect any substances that you have used. There is a separate charge for driving while impaired and it also carries severe penalties.
Victoria Police have the right to pull drivers over at any time and test their saliva for traces of illicit drugs including THC - the active component in cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy. You can be tested by any Victoria Police officers including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.
Drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds.
The procedure for random roadside drug testing is:
- drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds
- the sample is analysed at the roadside, this takes about 3 minutes
- drivers with a positive result are asked to undertake a further test
- if this test is also positive, the sample is sent to a laboratory for confirmation
- the results of this lab test form the basis for charging the driver.
Any driver may be asked to take a saliva test at any time. The saliva tests do not detect prescription drugs or common medications such as cold and flu tablets.
How do random roadside drug tests work?
Victoria Police have the right to pull drivers over at any time and test their saliva for traces of illicit drugs including THC - the active component in cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy. You can be tested by any Victoria Police officers including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.
Drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds.
The procedure for random roadside drug testing is:
- drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds
- the sample is analysed at the roadside, this takes about 3 minutes
- drivers with a positive result are asked to undertake a further test
- if this test is also positive, the sample is sent to a laboratory for confirmation
- the results of this lab test form the basis for charging the driver.
Any driver may be asked to take a saliva test at any time. The saliva tests do not detect prescription drugs or common medications such as cold and flu tablets.
It’s hard to know for sure how long drugs will remain in your system, it will vary from person to person and will depend on how much and which drug you have consumed. This is why if you have taken drugs you should not drive.
The tests work to detect drugs in saliva for several hours after use.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in your system. For example, if you take an illicit drug you could feel the high for a few hours, and then ‘come down’ quite some time later and feel drowsy. This is a side-effect of the drugs leaving your system after the high, and your driving ability will still be impaired.
How long after using an illicit drug will it take for me to provide a negative result?
It’s hard to know for sure how long drugs will remain in your system, it will vary from person to person and will depend on how much and which drug you have consumed. This is why if you have taken drugs you should not drive.
The tests work to detect drugs in saliva for several hours after use.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in your system. For example, if you take an illicit drug you could feel the high for a few hours, and then ‘come down’ quite some time later and feel drowsy. This is a side-effect of the drugs leaving your system after the high, and your driving ability will still be impaired.
It is an offence to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or to drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is legal or illicit. A positive result for an oral fluid test indicates that there has been recent drug use. Drug concentrations can only be determined through a blood sample.
In countries such as Canada where they can detect concentration levels the testing is a lot more invasive and has to be done through a blood sample. By using oral fluid testing Victoria Police is able to detect recent illicit drug use in a quick (<5min) and non-invasive way.
There are two types of charges for drug use while driving, these are:
- Exceed PCD (oral fluid).This offence is when the oral fluid sample of a driver simply contains this illicit substance. This results in 6-month suspension for a first offence.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (Impairment assessment and blood sample) Certificate of Drug effect by approved expert. 12 months disqualification of licence.
Why isn't the law built around people being impaired by drugs rather than drugs still being in a person's system?
It is an offence to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or to drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is legal or illicit. A positive result for an oral fluid test indicates that there has been recent drug use. Drug concentrations can only be determined through a blood sample.
In countries such as Canada where they can detect concentration levels the testing is a lot more invasive and has to be done through a blood sample. By using oral fluid testing Victoria Police is able to detect recent illicit drug use in a quick (<5min) and non-invasive way.
There are two types of charges for drug use while driving, these are:
- Exceed PCD (oral fluid).This offence is when the oral fluid sample of a driver simply contains this illicit substance. This results in 6-month suspension for a first offence.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (Impairment assessment and blood sample) Certificate of Drug effect by approved expert. 12 months disqualification of licence.
What about prescription medication?
It’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can be dangerous too. If you’re on medication and not sure if your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Victoria’s new SafeScript service is also available for people concerned about their use of prescription medicines.
Find out more information on prescription medication and driving
- Funding has been increased for roadside drug testing to allow Victoria Police to conduct up to 150,000 tests per year.
- After a successful trial one person Victoria Police stations can now conduct drug tests. Prior to the trial, drug testing was done predominately by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). More Victoria Police officers in more locations are now able to conduct roadside drug tests.
- Findings from the Monash University Accident Research Centre show the expansion in roadside drug testing in Victoria has saved more than 30 lives and almost 80 serious injuries on the state’s roads every year.
- Funding has been increased for roadside drug testing to allow Victoria Police to conduct up to 150,000 tests per year.
- After a successful trial one person Victoria Police stations can now conduct drug tests. Prior to the trial, drug testing was done predominately by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). More Victoria Police officers in more locations are now able to conduct roadside drug tests.
- Findings from the Monash University Accident Research Centre show the expansion in roadside drug testing in Victoria has saved more than 30 lives and almost 80 serious injuries on the state’s roads every year.
- The report found that maintaining the increase to 100,000 drug tests per annum had prevented more than 33 fatalities and nearly 80 serious injuries each year from 2016-2018.
- The study also highlights the times and days when alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamine are most likely to be present in drivers who are involved in crashes, and a breakdown of the levels of drugs and alcohol detected.
- Drink and drug driving are among the most significant factors in deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads. In the past five years, 18 per cent of drivers and motorcyclists killed in Victoria had illegal blood alcohol levels, and 41 per cent had drugs, both legal and illegal, in their system.
The facts
- In the last five years approximately 41% of all drivers and motorcyclists killed who were tested, had drugs in their system, with cannabis and stimulants most commonly detected.
- One in four Victorians who use drugs admit to driving under the influence of recreational drugs.
- 19% of driver and rider fatalities in 2018 had stimulants in their system and 10.3% had cannabis in their system.
- Victoria Police has increased drug testing from 40,000 tests in 2014 to 150,000 tests in 2019
- Drug tests are conducted from booze/drug buses, marked and unmarked patrol cars, police motorcycles and mobile intercepts.
Why drug driving is dangerous
Why drug driving is dangerous
If you’re driving whilst under the influence of illicit or prescription drugs you are a risk to yourself and others on the roads. The side effects of drugs, both illicit and prescription, can impair your ability to drive safely.
Roadside drug testing targets illicit drug use, however it’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can impact your driving too. If you're on medication and not sure whether your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
While the number of people who have died drink driving has dropped there has been an increase in the number of drivers dying with drugs in their system.
How illicit drugs affect driving
There are different ways that drugs will affect your driving ability, and if you combine drugs these affects can become even more dangerous.
- Cannabis - can slow down a person's reaction time, distort perception of speed and distance and reduce concentration and coordination when driving.
- Heroin - users usually will be drowsy for several hours; mental function is clouded; heart function slows; and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be life-threatening. Spatial awareness and cognitive impairment can impact the driver’s ability to perform the complex task of driving.
- Methamphetamine (ICE), ecstasy, cocaine - can lead to over-confidence, rash decision making and risk taking. Insomnia cause by ICE and cocaine use can affect a driver's reflex and concentration.
- Hallucinogens - affect hearing and sight as well as the perception of time, distance and movement, and they can make a person sense things that don't exist.
- Multiple drug use - using a combination of drugs can lead to extreme and varied effects such as dramatically slowed reaction times, visual distortion, inability to judge speeds and distances, and increased risk taking.
What you can do to stay safe
If you intend to drive, the safest option is to have no alcohol or other drugs in your system. There is no safe level of drug use when driving. Use of any drug always carries some risk.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in their system. If you need to go somewhere it’s best to organise someone else to drive or to organise alternate transport rather than risk driving.
Visit The Alcohol and Drug Foundation website for more information on specific drugs and their effect on driving.
If you or someone you know needs support:
Directline: 1800 888 236
Family Drug Support: 1300 368 186
Prescription medications and driving
What to do
- always ask if it is safe to drive on your medication
- read labels to see if your medication may affect your driving
- talk with your doctor or pharmacists to see how medications may affect your driving
- ask if there is a medicine that may be less impairing
- be aware medicines may affect your driving more when you first start taking them.
- don't stop medication or alter your dose without speaking to your doctor first
- don't drink alcohol if you are planning to drive
- use alternative transport such as public transport or ride share services.
How can medicines affect driving?
Recent research highlights older drivers use medication for their health, however the use of these medications can often and unknowingly, impair driving ability.
A high proportion of ageing driver fatalities involve multiple vehicle accidents, with many occurring at intersections. Complex traffic situations become more demanding, particularly in combination with deteriorating hearing, vision, reaction time and/or mobility.
The impairing effect of some medicines can be equivalent to a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of 0.05% or more so it’s important to understand how your medicines affect your ability to drive.
Common side effects of some medications are:
- drowsiness or tiredness
- dizziness or feeling faint
- blurred vision
- shakiness or unsteadiness
- confusion and poor concentration
- slower reaction time
- nausea
- mood changes and anxiety
Medicines that can impair driving
| Commonly used for | Type of medicine | Generic name | Example brand name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety, sleep problems | Benzodiazepines | Alprazolam | Xanax |
| Oxazepam | Serepax | ||
| Anxiety, sleep problems, epilepsy | Diazepam | Valium | |
| Clonazepam | Rivotril | ||
| Sleep problems | Other sleep medicines | Nitrazepam | Mogadon |
| Zolpidem | Stilnox | ||
| Temazepam | Temaze | ||
| Depression, bladder problems, migraine and/or nerve pain | Tricyclic antidepressants | Amitriptyline | Endep |
| Doxepin | Deptran | ||
| Depression, anxiety | Monoamine oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors | Moclobemide | Aurorix |
| Depression, anxiety | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) | Escitalopram | Lerxapro |
| Fluoxetine | Prozac | ||
| Sertraline | Zoloft | ||
| Depression | Other antidepressants | Mirtazapine | Avanza |
| Psychotic conditions (eg schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder) | Antipsychotics | Haloperidol | Serenace |
| Olanzapine | Zyprexa | ||
| Quetiapine | Seroquel | ||
| Allergies, cough, cold and flu symptoms | Sedating antihistamines | Chlorpheniramine | Codral original Cold and Flu, Cough Day and Night capsules |
| Brompheniramine | Demazine Cough and cold Relief Elixir | ||
| Allergies, itchiness, motion sickness, sedation | Promethazine | Phenergan | |
| Allergies, cough, cold and flu symptoms, sleep problems | Diphenhydramine | Benadryl for the Family original syrup, Snuzaid | |
| Doxylamine | Dozile | ||
| Hay fever, skin rash | Less sedating antihistamines | Cetirizine | Zyrtec |
| Fexofenadine | Telfast | ||
| Loratadine | Claratyne | ||
| Epilepsy | Anticonvulsants | Primidone | Mysoline |
| Pain relief | Opioids | Codeine | Nurofen Plus, Panadeine Forte |
| Oxycodone | Oxycontin | ||
| Morphine | Anamorph |
Note. The medicines listed above give generic examples and brand names for each type of medicine but does not cover all medicines that can impair your driving. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more advice.
FAQs about drug driving
You can be given a penalty for:
- failing a roadside drug test
- driving while impaired by a drug
- refusing to undertake a roadside drug test and/or impairment test by Victoria Police.
The minimum penalties for drug driving are:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- A requirement to complete a behaviour change program in order to become relicensed. The program includes screening and assessment for drug problems and referral to treatment services as required.
The penalties will increase if you are caught more than once, or if other offences are detected. You could lose your licence for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in fines. Victoria Police also have the power to impound your vehicle for some offences. Find out more about vehicle impoundment on the VicRoads website.
You can read more about penalties on the VicRoads website
The penalties for drug driving
You can be given a penalty for:
- failing a roadside drug test
- driving while impaired by a drug
- refusing to undertake a roadside drug test and/or impairment test by Victoria Police.
The minimum penalties for drug driving are:
- Loss of licence for 6 months
- A fine of $577
- A requirement to complete a behaviour change program in order to become relicensed. The program includes screening and assessment for drug problems and referral to treatment services as required.
The penalties will increase if you are caught more than once, or if other offences are detected. You could lose your licence for up to a year and face thousands of dollars in fines. Victoria Police also have the power to impound your vehicle for some offences. Find out more about vehicle impoundment on the VicRoads website.
You can read more about penalties on the VicRoads website
A combined drink and drug-driving offence has higher penalties than an individual drink-driving or drug-driving offence.
You can be charged with combined drink & drug-driving whether the offence was detected at the roadside (through a saliva screening test) or later through a blood or urine sample.
Find out more about the penalties on the VicRoads website.
Are there additional penalties if I am also caught drink driving?
A combined drink and drug-driving offence has higher penalties than an individual drink-driving or drug-driving offence.
You can be charged with combined drink & drug-driving whether the offence was detected at the roadside (through a saliva screening test) or later through a blood or urine sample.
Find out more about the penalties on the VicRoads website.
- THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the active component in cannabis
- Methamphetamine, which is found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’, and ‘crystal meth’
- MDMA, which is known as ecstasy.
What drugs are detected in roadside drug tests?
- THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the active component in cannabis
- Methamphetamine, which is found in drugs such as ’speed’, ’base’, ‘ice’, and ‘crystal meth’
- MDMA, which is known as ecstasy.
If Victoria Police believe that you are driving while impaired they may ask you to complete a Standard Impairment Test. You may then be asked undertake a blood test which will detect any substances that you have used. There is a separate charge for driving while impaired and it also carries severe penalties.
What about drugs that aren’t detected by the roadside test?
If Victoria Police believe that you are driving while impaired they may ask you to complete a Standard Impairment Test. You may then be asked undertake a blood test which will detect any substances that you have used. There is a separate charge for driving while impaired and it also carries severe penalties.
Victoria Police have the right to pull drivers over at any time and test their saliva for traces of illicit drugs including THC - the active component in cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy. You can be tested by any Victoria Police officers including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.
Drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds.
The procedure for random roadside drug testing is:
- drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds
- the sample is analysed at the roadside, this takes about 3 minutes
- drivers with a positive result are asked to undertake a further test
- if this test is also positive, the sample is sent to a laboratory for confirmation
- the results of this lab test form the basis for charging the driver.
Any driver may be asked to take a saliva test at any time. The saliva tests do not detect prescription drugs or common medications such as cold and flu tablets.
How do random roadside drug tests work?
Victoria Police have the right to pull drivers over at any time and test their saliva for traces of illicit drugs including THC - the active component in cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy. You can be tested by any Victoria Police officers including motorcycle, highway patrol and unmarked vehicles.
Drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds.
The procedure for random roadside drug testing is:
- drivers are asked to provide a saliva sample by placing a small absorbent pad on their tongue for a few seconds
- the sample is analysed at the roadside, this takes about 3 minutes
- drivers with a positive result are asked to undertake a further test
- if this test is also positive, the sample is sent to a laboratory for confirmation
- the results of this lab test form the basis for charging the driver.
Any driver may be asked to take a saliva test at any time. The saliva tests do not detect prescription drugs or common medications such as cold and flu tablets.
It’s hard to know for sure how long drugs will remain in your system, it will vary from person to person and will depend on how much and which drug you have consumed. This is why if you have taken drugs you should not drive.
The tests work to detect drugs in saliva for several hours after use.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in your system. For example, if you take an illicit drug you could feel the high for a few hours, and then ‘come down’ quite some time later and feel drowsy. This is a side-effect of the drugs leaving your system after the high, and your driving ability will still be impaired.
How long after using an illicit drug will it take for me to provide a negative result?
It’s hard to know for sure how long drugs will remain in your system, it will vary from person to person and will depend on how much and which drug you have consumed. This is why if you have taken drugs you should not drive.
The tests work to detect drugs in saliva for several hours after use.
While you may no longer feel the effect of the drug, or feel impaired, the drug may still be present in your system. For example, if you take an illicit drug you could feel the high for a few hours, and then ‘come down’ quite some time later and feel drowsy. This is a side-effect of the drugs leaving your system after the high, and your driving ability will still be impaired.
It is an offence to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or to drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is legal or illicit. A positive result for an oral fluid test indicates that there has been recent drug use. Drug concentrations can only be determined through a blood sample.
In countries such as Canada where they can detect concentration levels the testing is a lot more invasive and has to be done through a blood sample. By using oral fluid testing Victoria Police is able to detect recent illicit drug use in a quick (<5min) and non-invasive way.
There are two types of charges for drug use while driving, these are:
- Exceed PCD (oral fluid).This offence is when the oral fluid sample of a driver simply contains this illicit substance. This results in 6-month suspension for a first offence.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (Impairment assessment and blood sample) Certificate of Drug effect by approved expert. 12 months disqualification of licence.
Why isn't the law built around people being impaired by drugs rather than drugs still being in a person's system?
It is an offence to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or to drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is legal or illicit. A positive result for an oral fluid test indicates that there has been recent drug use. Drug concentrations can only be determined through a blood sample.
In countries such as Canada where they can detect concentration levels the testing is a lot more invasive and has to be done through a blood sample. By using oral fluid testing Victoria Police is able to detect recent illicit drug use in a quick (<5min) and non-invasive way.
There are two types of charges for drug use while driving, these are:
- Exceed PCD (oral fluid).This offence is when the oral fluid sample of a driver simply contains this illicit substance. This results in 6-month suspension for a first offence.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (Impairment assessment and blood sample) Certificate of Drug effect by approved expert. 12 months disqualification of licence.
What about prescription medication?
It’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can be dangerous too. If you’re on medication and not sure if your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Victoria’s new SafeScript service is also available for people concerned about their use of prescription medicines.
Find out more information on prescription medication and driving
What we're doing about drug driving
- Funding has been increased for roadside drug testing to allow Victoria Police to conduct up to 150,000 tests per year.
- After a successful trial one person Victoria Police stations can now conduct drug tests. Prior to the trial, drug testing was done predominately by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). More Victoria Police officers in more locations are now able to conduct roadside drug tests.
- Findings from the Monash University Accident Research Centre show the expansion in roadside drug testing in Victoria has saved more than 30 lives and almost 80 serious injuries on the state’s roads every year.
- Funding has been increased for roadside drug testing to allow Victoria Police to conduct up to 150,000 tests per year.
- After a successful trial one person Victoria Police stations can now conduct drug tests. Prior to the trial, drug testing was done predominately by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS). More Victoria Police officers in more locations are now able to conduct roadside drug tests.
- Findings from the Monash University Accident Research Centre show the expansion in roadside drug testing in Victoria has saved more than 30 lives and almost 80 serious injuries on the state’s roads every year.
- The report found that maintaining the increase to 100,000 drug tests per annum had prevented more than 33 fatalities and nearly 80 serious injuries each year from 2016-2018.
- The study also highlights the times and days when alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamine are most likely to be present in drivers who are involved in crashes, and a breakdown of the levels of drugs and alcohol detected.
- Drink and drug driving are among the most significant factors in deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads. In the past five years, 18 per cent of drivers and motorcyclists killed in Victoria had illegal blood alcohol levels, and 41 per cent had drugs, both legal and illegal, in their system.
