Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has launched a new campaign focusing on the dangers of mixing prescription medication with other substances and driving.

Educating drivers on the impact of drugs, alcohol, and mixed substances is a key part of the Government’s Road to Zero strategy, which aims to reduce deaths and injuries from road crashes in New Zealand by 40% by 2030.

Waka Kotahi director of land transport Kane Patena said the use of multiple substances by drivers across the country is common, including illegal drugs, prescription medications, and alcohol. Laboratory testing shows almost half of drivers who were killed with alcohol in their systems while driving had also taken another substance, whether they were below the legal limit for blood alcohol or not.

“This presents a major safety risk to everyone who uses the roads,” Patena said.

“In both 2019 and 2020, over 100 people were killed in crashes where a driver was found to have drugs in their system. Research shows there is a significant increase in crash risk for drivers taking a combination of substances.

“The multiplied effect can impact people’s brains and bodies in ways that are particularly dangerous for driving. Combining substances can multiply their effects and reduce coordination, blur vision, cause nausea, and impede reaction times – all of which significantly reduces your ability to drive safely,” he said.

The new campaign uses testimonies from police, medical and healthcare professionals on the impact of a range of substance combinations, and their ability to impact people’s ability to drive safely.

It supports targeted on-road police enforcement of impaired driving.

Earlier this month, the Government announced that random roadside drug testing will come into force from next year to deter drug-impaired driving as part of the Road to Zero strategy.