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Drug driving laws are unfair and not supported by science, say lawyers
24th May 2019
Current drug driving testing laws are not supported by science and are not fair to drivers who can lose their license with no evidence of impaired driving, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
“Current drug driving laws are simply not fair,” said Greg Barns, criminal justice spokesperson for the ALA. “People lose their jobs and lives are turned upside down, not because of impaired driving risk, but because of flawed testing and flawed laws.
“We strongly oppose the current drug driving laws which are not based on science, and need to be reviewed.
“The current tests are a very blunt instrument that fail to discern whether traces of drugs in someone’s system are actually impacting their driving ability.
The ALA says that unpublished research by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics referenced by the ABC yesterday reinforces existing concerns about the danger of wrongful convictions when relying on unproven testing methods.
“More scientific research is required to understand the rate and method of absorption of cannabinoids and the impact these drugs have on driving ability. This is particularly relevant as medical cannabis is becoming more widely and legally available,” said Mr Barns.
The ALA is a national association of lawyers, academics and other professionals dedicated to protecting and promoting justice, freedom and the rights of the individual.
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