Suspended Nick Smith says Drug Driving Bill an urgent priority

Stuff co.nz 9 May 2019
Family First Comment: Dealing with the actual outcomes of drug liberalisation….
“In 2017, drivers under the influence of drugs were proven to have been involved in 79 fatal crashes on New Zealand roads, compared to 70 for those driving under the influence of alcohol.”

National MP Nick Smith says his party will continue to put pressure on the government to introduce random roadside drug testing.

The Nelson MP was suspended from the House yesterday when he made critical comments towards Speaker Trevor Mallard, after he sought leave to introduce a drug driving bill first put forward by MP Alastair Scott in September last year.

During question time in Parliament on Wednesday Smith had asked for the bill to be set down as the first members’ order of the day on May 22, but that was rejected by Mallard.

Smith said there was an urgent need to get the bill before a select committee, with drug-impaired road fatalities escalating in recent years.

“In the past five years that number has gone from 15 per year to 79, and last year for the first time it exceeded the number of deaths on the road from drunk driving.”

In 2017, drivers under the influence of drugs were proven to have been involved in 79 fatal crashes on New Zealand roads, compared to 70 for those driving under the influence of alcohol.

The bill proposed by Scott would allow police officers to undertake random roadside testing for THC, MDMA, and methamphetamine, similar to current legislation in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112595240/suspended-nick-smith-says-drug-driving-bill-an-urgent-priority