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Source: ONE News -
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Police have begun training on their new powers to deal with drugged-up drivers.
Although it has always been illegal, from next week drivers behind the wheel suspected of being under the influence of drugs will be forced to take an impairment test.
Alarming figures show driving under the influence of drugs is far from uncommon and the new roadside test will ensure more offenders can be prosecuted.
"If they're on meth or something like that they're gonna be pinpricks," says Sergeant Pete Daly from Christchurch.
And more than 200 officers from around the country are putting the roadside test to the test before the new law comes in.
"Finally we're able to address an issue that we haven't until now," says Daly.
The impairment test will be compulsory if police suspect a driver has taken drugs.
"Anyone who's required to undergo a compulsory impairment test will be a committing an offence if they don't do that test," Daly says.
Police say they will be looking for more than one failure across all three tests before they take action.
Putting one foot in front of the other sounds quite simple but is actually fairly hard to do and police say tests that were used long ago against the demon drink are relevant once more in the battle against drugs.
Research has found over 30% of drivers killed in road crashes they caused had drugs in their blood.
Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation says people used to think it was ok to drink and drive and that's an attitude drivers currently have with drugs.
It's an attitude that can kill and will soon be targeted in an ad campaign which warns that if you use drugs and drive you will have to face the consequences.
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