3 May 2013

One in five drivers on drugs

11:25 am on 3 May 2013

Police in Queensland are catching an increasing number of drug drivers.

Since random roadside drug tests were introduced in 2007, police have tested more than 95,000 drivers in Queensland.

At a recent operation at Wynnum in Brisbane, one in five drivers tested positive to drugs.

The ABC reports that one in every 39 drivers tested positive for illicit drugs in 2007 and a year later it was one in 50.

By last year the incidence of drug driving had increased to one driver in 20.

Inspector Ray Rohweder said some people are driving under the influence of serious drugs.

"Ecstasy, ice - those sort of harder drugs," he said.

Researchers say drug drivers are up to 30 times more likely to be involved in an accident than sober drivers.