Canberra drivers are much more likely to be stopped by police for roadside drink-driving tests than illegal drug checks.
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But the random breath-testing and roadside drug-testing programs are both succeeding in detecting a significant number of drivers breaking the law.
Between March 2012 and March 2013, ACT police conducted 104,158 drink-driving tests, figures provided to an Assembly committee show. More than 1500, or 1.4 per cent, of drivers tested positive to being over the legal limit. During the same period, 2334 roadside drug-driving tests were conducted with 62, or 2.6 per cent, returning positive results.
Police Minister Simon Corbell said it was likely that the number of drug-driving tests would increase over time as technology improved and tests became quicker.
''I think over time [it] will increase but how significantly I think will depend on the reductions in the cost of the technology and how quickly [tests] can be administered,'' he said.
Roadside drug testing began in the ACT during 2011. It involves the placing of an oral fluid test device on a driver's tongue and it takes about 10 minutes.
''We are seeing that the amount of drug driving is similar to what other jurisdictions are experiencing, so that's a positive development. It's still new technology and it's relatively costly to administer per test but the same could be said of random breath testing when it was first introduced,'' Mr Corbell said. ''One of my ministerial directions to police - areas of particular emphasis and priority - is to tackle dangerous driving behaviour. And clearly drink driving and drug driving is part of that suite of dangerous driving behaviours.''
Roadside drug checks test for traces of ecstasy, methamphetamine and cannabis.
The number of positive results have fluctuated as police have undertaken a mixture of targeted and random testing operations.
People caught drug driving can face fines and the loss of their licences. Repeat offenders can be imprisoned for up to three months.
Mr Corbell said the government remained concerned about the number of people caught drink driving who were repeat offenders. ''This highlights why we need technology such as alcohol interlock to help tackle that recidivist behaviour that we see from some drivers on our roads,'' he said.
''Alcohol interlocks will ensure that drivers convicted of having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher - three times the legal limit - must have an alcohol interlock fitted. That means they can't start their car unless they're sober.''