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Driving under the influence of cannabis is relatively common
according to new statistics released on Thursday.
The drug foundation says drug driving is a serious safety issue and
more education is needed to stop it.
In a survey of 1,200 New Zealanders by the Drug Foundation, 24.5% said they had driven after taking cannabis in the last year.
The majority of those (78.6%) felt their driving was not changed or was better the last time they drove after using cannabis.
Click here for the full research report.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce says he is concerned about growing evidence showing driving while under the influence of drugs is a problem in New Zealand.
"I find that pretty hard to believe (that people drive better when under the influence of drugs), but let's take them at their words.
"It's all about taking responsibility when you're driving. Cars are lethal if you don't drive properly."
An impairment test will be part of new legislation to come into effect later this year and will provide more evidence about how drug taking affects driving, Joyce says.
"Some people think they're bulletproof and frankly they're not. There are some cavalier attitudes."
The death and injury toll on our roads are "just too high".
The new legislation is a first step and "we've got to walk before we can run", Joyce says.
Now is the time to see how the new legislation works as there is not the technology available for more roadside testing, he says.
Growing body of evidence
Drug Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell says there is a growing body of evidence that shows cannabis use impairs drivers' ability.
"Some cannabis users may feel like their driving is unaffected or better while they're high, but studies show they have slower reaction times, are less able to control their vehicles and are much more likely to cause collisions.
"Clearly we need to get messages out to people who use drugs, that using drugs and driving isn't safe, unfortunately the attitude at the moment is that it is."
Human face of the problem
Wednesday should have been Norman Luscombe's 85th birthday but his family had to remember it without him.
He was killed 18 months ago in a car accident caused by a driver high on a lethal cocktail of drugs.
Luscombe's daughter Bev O'Keefe says the driver was clearly severely impaired by methadone, cannabis and a prescription drug, lorazopan.
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