SYDNEY, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The number of drug driver charges in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has tripled in just a year thanks to increased detection, according to a government research released on Tuesday.
An increase in roadside drug testing saw 9,808 people charged with driving under the influence of drugs from 2015 to 2016 in NSW, according to the report, which marked a 320 percent rise from the corresponding period a year ago.
Under Australian law, it is an offence to have any trace of illicit drugs in your body if you are driving a motor vehicle.
The research from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) showed 80 percent of offenders were male and 70 percent were under 40.
Dr. Don Weatherburn, director of the BOCSAR, told Xinhua on Tuesday he hopes increased detection and new drug testing equipment will "act as a deterrent."
"The rise in charges shows increased law enforcement and increased detection, rather than an actual increase in incidences," Weatherburn said.
"People need to know that when they drive a car they are operating a heavy piece of machinery, and under the influence of drugs, you can cause great risk to yourself and others."
The report also found the rate of prosecution was twice as high in regional and country parts of the state, compared to the state average.
"We know that drug driving is particularly prevalent in some parts of the state, for example the north coast," Weatherburn said.
One such area is the Richmond Tweed locality, where the conviction rate for drug driving is five times more than the state average.
There are about 100,000 roadside tests every year on Sydney's roads and while the state's police might be pleased that they are detecting more offenders than before, some experts say there is still more work to be done.
Roadside drug testing machines used by Australian police check saliva for traces of cannabis, amphetamines, methamphetamine and MDMA.
Offenders will have their licences suspended for a minimum period of six months and some may also face a fine of 470 Australian dollars (349 U.S. dollars).
Professor Alison Ritter at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre told Xinhua on Tuesday Australian police should be testing for impairment, rather than just simply the presence of drugs in order to improve road safety.
"Driving under the influence of drugs is a road safety concern. But the fact that they only test for the presence of drugs and don't test for impairment has been a key criticism of the Australian drug driving laws," Ritter said.
"If we are serious about road safety, we should have laws that are concerned with whether someone is impaired in their driving, not whether someone has the presence of substances in their blood."
