Imagine if you had to tell a family that their child was never coming home again...because a driver had a few too many drinks and they were too lazy to get a taxi? How would you feel if it was your child? Your brother, your parent, your best friend? Now imagine that you're the one who had a few drinks and thought...Home isn't too far. I'll make it without getting busted. While on the back streets worrying if the booze bus will catch you, you hit someone. How do you live with that for the rest of your life?
A comprehensive decade-long study examining drug and alcohol presence in Victorian road crashes has revealed alarming trends, with methylamphetamine emerging as the most prevalent illicit substance detected in both injured and fatally injured drivers between 2010 and 2019.
The research, published in Injury Prevention and led by Monash University, represents the largest investigation of its kind conducted in Australia. Analysing data from 19,843 injured drivers and 1,596 fatalities, the findings paint a concerning picture of drug-impaired driving across Victoria’s roads.
Methylamphetamine Prevalence in Road Crashes Reaches Alarming Levels
The study found that methylamphetamine had the highest prevalence among Victorian drivers involved in crashes. Researchers detected the substance in 12.3% of fatalities and 9.1% of injured drivers, and these detections increased over time.
Taken together, these statistics underscore a growing public health and road safety challenge. In particular, methylamphetamine impairs cognitive function, reaction times, and decision-making abilities, all of which are critical for safe vehicle operation.
Multiple Substances Detected in Victorian Drivers
The research revealed that 16.8% of car drivers and motorcyclists tested positive for one or more drugs. Alcohol remained a significant factor, with 14% of crashes involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or exceeding 0.05%.
Cannabis (THC) emerged as another substance of concern, with detections rising amongst injured drivers until 2018. The study found THC detected in 8.1% of injured drivers and 15.2% of fatally injured drivers.
MDMA-positive driving decreased amongst injured drivers and remained stable at approximately 1% of fatalities throughout the study period.
Drug-Driving Patterns in Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists emerged as a particularly vulnerable population. Between 2015 and 2019, methylamphetamine was detected in 27.9% of motorcyclist fatalities, a figure substantially higher than the overall driver population. THC followed at 18.3%, with alcohol at or above 0.05% BAC detected in 14.2% of fatal motorcycle crashes. Similar but lower frequencies were observed amongst injured motorcyclists.
These elevated rates amongst motorcyclists warrant particular attention, as riders already face heightened vulnerability on roads due to reduced physical protection compared to enclosed vehicle occupants.
Alcohol Trends Show Mixed Results
The study documented a decline in alcohol detections (≥0.05% BAC) amongst fatalities. However, alcohol detections increased amongst injured motorcyclists and car drivers until plateauing in 2017. This mixed trend suggests that whilst fatal alcohol-related crashes may be decreasing, alcohol continues to contribute significantly to road trauma overall.
Demographics and Risk Factors
The research identified that there was a higher incidence of drug-positive driving amongst men and individuals aged between 25 and 59 years, alongside patterns of increasing drug use in motorcyclists.
Implications for Road Safety Prevention
The comprehensive data from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Victoria Police provides robust evidence of persistent drug-impaired driving despite Victoria’s enhanced road safety measures.
Co-senior author Adjunct Associate Professor Dimitri Gerostamoulos from Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine stated that the findings confirm methylamphetamine, alcohol, and cannabis are the drugs that cause the most harm on Victorian roads.
The decade-long trends demonstrate that current prevention strategies require re-evaluation and strengthening. The study’s authors concluded that despite enhanced road safety measures in Victoria, drug-driving persists, indicating a need for revised prevention strategies targeting this growing issue.
Addressing the Drug-Driving Challenge
This research provides critical baseline data for policymakers, law enforcement, and public health officials working to reduce drug-driving incidents. The upward trajectory of methylamphetamine detections, combined with persistent alcohol involvement and rising cannabis presence, indicates that impaired driving prevention must remain a priority.
Understanding which substances most frequently impair drivers, and which demographic groups exhibit highest risk, enables targeted prevention initiatives. The particularly high rates of drug detection amongst motorcyclists suggest this group requires specialised attention in prevention messaging and enforcement strategies.
As Victoria continues developing its road safety framework, this evidence base highlights where authorities should concentrate prevention efforts to achieve meaningful reductions in drug and alcohol-related road trauma.
Read the full paper in Injury Prevention: https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2025/01/17/ip-2024-045342
(Source: WRD News)
