By DANE LILLINGSTONE
OVER the previous week there have been 11 positive roadside drug tests recorded by Stanthorpe and Warwick police.
Stanthorpe recorded five positive tests while Warwick recorded six, in a sign that people are not getting the message about using drugs and getting behind the wheel.
Warwick police Senior Sergeant Jamie Deacon said the testing was part of a state-wide initiative.
“It’s across the state. It’s part of what the QPS has pushed to reduce road trauma,” he said.
“The drug-driving testing its fairly new technology but they’re (QPS) broadening the strength of that, they are starting to train the people in regional areas. We had a course last week to train more people in drug-driving detection.
“It’s part of an ongoing rollout to broaden our capacity in that regard for community safety and to reduce road trauma.”
Sgt Deacon said common sense was needed by everyone when getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle because anyone under the influence was not only a danger to themselves but everyone around them in the community.
“The reality is for young people who are driving, they have zero limits for drugs and alcohol. Do not drive if you’re planning to drink, obviously drugs are illegal anyway, but if you take drugs and drive its illegal,” he said.
“In the Warwick patrol group area, which encompasses Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe and Warwick areas, it’s always been fairly high over the last few years with serious injury and fatal traffic accidents so there is a focus in this area for traffic enforcement and that’s just common sense, drug-driving and drink-driving is part of that.
“We will continue to do RBTs and drug-driving testing in the foreseeable future to reduce road trauma.
“For those who are considering drink-driving and or drug use and driving, they will be detected, that is our aim. The aim is to make the roads safer for everyone.”
