Victoria Police secure $21m funding boost for roadside testing, new app

Drug drivers face an unprecedented crackdown after Victoria Police secured a mammoth funding boost to ramp up roadside testing by 25,000 tests yearly.

Nearly 800 crashes involved drug-affected drivers in just 12 months. Picture: Ian Currie

Police will conduct an extra 25,000 roadside drug tests each year after nearly 800 crashes involved drug-affected drivers in just 12 months.

The TAC has granted the force a $21m funding boost to allow members to conduct the extra drug tests and to develop an app to slash paperwork that will see more police on the beat.

Drug drivers will be the targets of the 25,000 extra tests to bring the total to more than 175,000 each year in Victoria.

Police will conduct an additional 25,000 roadside tests yearly. Picture: Ian Currie

The TAC funding grant, valued at $21.1m, will see nearly $5m dedicated to the extra drug tests, nearly $6m for the app and $6m to install more license plate recognition devices.

Force intelligence indicates that there was 793 crashes where the driver was affected by drugs while nearly 8300 motorists were detected drug driving over the past financial year.

It remains one of the largest contributors to the state’s road toll each year.

The development of the Roadside Impaired Driver Evidence app will almost completely wipe the paperwork involved when reporting drug and drink drivers on the roads.

Officers will soon be able to punch in the data to the mobile app without spending hours filling out and submitting paperwork back at the station.

The TAC has granted the force a $21m funding boost to allow members to conduct the extra drug tests. Picture: Ian Currie

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said the major funding boost would save hours of manual labour to allow more officers to patrol the streets.

“This is a massive investment from the Transport Accident Commission and there is no doubt it will save lives,” he said.

“The development of new technology to automate administrative processes at the roadside also means police can spend less time on paperwork and more time patrolling the roads.”

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said the major funding boost would save hours of manual labour. Picture: David Crosling

Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said a visible police presence was a huge deterrent for those considering taking drugs.

“Decades of evidence show that strong and visible police enforcement is essential to saving lives and preventing serious injuries on our roads,” she said.

“The likelihood of being caught remains one of the most effective deterrents to dangerous and illegal driving behaviour.”

Alcohol breath testing equipment will also be purchased and replaced. Picture: Ian Currie

The funding will also see a further 88 police vehicles fitted with number plate recognition devices that allow officers to instantly ascertain whether a car is stolen.

In-car video technology — which can be used to convict dangerous hoons — will also be upgraded in nearly 100 police vehicles at regional stations with just one officer.

Alcohol breath testing equipment, valued at $1.5m, will also be purchased and replaced.