NCJ Number
223289
Date Published
June 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Using data from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, this paper examines the prevalence of drug driving among a sample of police detainees in key sites in 2005 and 2006.
Abstract
Results indicate that over half of detainees who had driven a car or other vehicle in the past 12 months reported driving after they had used drugs other than alcohol and over one-third reported driving after they had used alcohol. Consistent with past research, detainees were most likely to perceive that cannabis and methylamphetamine did not have a negative effect on their driving ability. Findings from this research provide useful information on detainees who have been involved in high-speed police pursuits. Almost three-fourths of detainees involved as a driver in a high-speed police pursuit reported being under the influence of drugs at the time. In recent years there has been increasing concern about the prevalence of drug driving in Australia. This study highlights the significant issue of driving following the use of drugs and/or alcohol in Australia. It explores the characteristics of police detainees who drive after drug use and their perception of the risks in doing so. It also examines the possible link between high-speed police pursuits and drugs. Table, figures and references