Vic killer drivers to be drug tested

Mandatory drug blood tests are being introduced for Victorian drivers who kill or seriously injure others.

Victorian drivers who kill or seriously injure others will undergo mandatory blood testing for drugs, including heroin.

Police and emergency services minister Kim Wells says the new laws, the first of their kind in Australia, will be the toughest in the country.

"Victoria will be the first state in Australia to introduce this stringent new law and will also be the first .. to test for heroin," he said.

"The change takes away any ambiguity with regard to discretionary police powers," he said.

He said 26 per cent of drivers killed last year tested positive to drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, or methamphetamines, including ice.

"And just as horrifying is that (another) 24 people were killed and 121 people were injured by drivers who returned a positive drug test," he said.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world