KEY POINTS:
More drivers involved in fatal crashes had drugs than alcohol in the systems, latest figures show.
The statistics, provided to The Press under the Official Information Act, follow the Government's introduction of drug-driving legislation to Parliament.
Under the proposed law, police will put suspected drugged drivers through a roadside test of balance, co-ordination and eye-pupil response, and if they appear to be affected, they will be ordered to have a blood test.
The figures, from a police and Environmental Science and Research (ESR) initiative, provide the greatest insight so far into New Zealand's high levels of drug driving.
The study found that of 408 drivers who died in road accidents in 2005 and 2006, 124 had cannabis in their system, some of whom had also consumed alcohol.
Forty-one of the dead drivers had only cannabis in their blood, and 60 had only alcohol in their system, according to data gathered from blood tests.
Fifty also tested positive for drugs such as morphine, methadone, methamphetamine and benzodiazapines.
The ESR forensic toxicologist in charge of the alcohol and drug-driving study, Helen Poulsen, said New Zealand appeared to have one of the highest drug-driving levels in the world.
The latest results showed a significant increase in the number of dead drivers testing positive for drugs compared to a study done by ESR for police between 1996 and 1997.
Automobile Association spokesman Simon Lambourne said the figures were "most concerning".
- NZPA
