Qld drug-driving cases on rise

Renee Pilcher

MORE drivers are being caught for drug use on Queensland's roads as police step up random drug testing.

Police conducted 11,926 roadside tests for cannabis, methylamphetamine and MDMA between June 1, 2009 and February 16, 2010.

The results showed 228 people tested positive, a rate of nearly 27 a month.

Since roadside drug tests were introduced on December 1, 2007, the number of people being caught has steadily increased with the frequency of tests.

In all of 2008, 11,217 swabs were done, netting 217 positive results, or 18 a month on average.

Police Minister Neil Roberts says there is a chance the number caught out is increasing because more people are taking a chance.

"It may be a case of more people taking a risk, which is totally unacceptable, or it may be because more targeted campaigns by police to protect people are working," Mr Roberts told AAP.

The government released the drug test figures following a request from opposition police spokesman Vaughan Johnson.

Meanwhile, new data on roadside breath tests showed drink-driving is still one of the biggest safety concerns.

From June 2009 to January this year nearly 2.2 million breath tests were done, leading to more than 19,000 people being charged.

In 2008, alcohol and drugs were identified as a factor in 126 deaths, or 38.4 per cent of the Queensland road toll.