Hundreds of Queensland drivers have been caught behind the wheel with cocaine in their system. More than 14- hundred positive tests have been recorded since Queensland police began testing for the illicit drug in roadside stops two years ago.
00:00New data shows that driving under the influence of drugs has become more dangerous on Queensland roads than drink driving.
00:10In the last 12 months alone, 49 people have lost their lives in incidents involving a driver under the influence of drugs.
00:18That's compared to 42 drink driving fatalities on Queensland roads.
00:23In the last two years, Queensland police have expanded their roadside testing repertoire to include tests for cocaine.
00:29In that time, more than 1,200 people have tested positive for having the drug in their system while behind the wheel.
00:37The most common drug found in driver's system is THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
00:43Behind that is methylamphetamine with about 12,000 Queenslanders testing positive for that in their system while driving.
00:51Queensland police say as a result they're attempting to increase the amount of roadside tests they conduct.
00:57In the last year alone, 70,000 tests have been undertaken.
01:01Road safety advocates say driving with drugs or alcohol in a person's system is incredibly dangerous.
01:09Driving with a cocktail of both of them is a recipe for a crash.
01:13As a result, police are expanding their testing efforts in an effort to combat what seems to be a rise in drink and drug driving right across the state.
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