Australia begins 12-day roadside drug testing for truck drivers

Australia has begun a nationwide drug testing effort focusing on the trucking industry. Titled Operation Austrans, the program to combat drink and drug driving commenced on Tuesday 28 November and runs until 9 December.

This is the second phase of the drug testing enforcement program this year. The first ran from 20 March to 1 April.

During the first day of the program, Queensland Police conducted 459 roadside tests at weigh stations, with seven drivers testing positive for drug use. Officers in Queensland also reported 11 other traffic violations on the first day. These included seat belt violations, speeding, improper mobile phone use, driving uninsured or unregistered vehicles, and operating defective vehicles.

“The numbers are concerning to me as each one of these numbers could have resulted in a fatality,” said Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Peter Flanders. “Given that we are coming into the holiday season which will see a lot of people hitting the road, all motorists need to remember to drive safely.”

Victoria Police conducted 173 preliminary drug tests on the first day of the campaign, with four drivers testing positive for drug use.

Victoria’s Road Policing Operations Superintendent John Fitzpatrick said that, although there have been efforts to enhance transport sector safety standards, heavy vehicles remain overrepresented in injuries and deaths on Australia’s roads: “Comprising less than 4% of the national road fleet, heavy vehicles are involved in around 17% of road fatalities nationally.”

Fitzpatrick was clear on the point that he was not referring to all operators of heavy vehicles and their irresponsibility, but emphasised that most workers involved in Australia’s transport sector are compliant with industry practices, working hard to maintain high standards. On the other hand, he said, there exists a minority who wish to “tarnish the perception of the industry and this is who we are targeting”.