Draeger Safety Canada Reaffirms its Commitment to Help Make Canadian Roads Safer

Draeger DrugTest® 5000 Already Used by Police Departments throughout the world

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - With today's legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, Draeger Safety Canada reaffirms its commitment to creating roadside testing devices that will help law enforcement agencies identify drivers with cocaine or THC in their saliva above the legal limits.

The Draeger DrugTest® 5000 works effectively in the Canadian climate with appropriate use protocols, and has been recognized as an important tool in the enforcement spectrum, helping ensure the safety of all users of Canadian roadways.

The device has been approved by the Attorney General of Canada after rigorous testing by the National Research Council. It is the only device on the Canadian market that meets the strict requirements and standards set by the Canadian Society of Forensic Science Drugs and Driving Committee (DDC) for Drug Screening Equipment. We are proud to have been selected and look forward to working with Canadian law enforcement in the months and years ahead.

Climate Specifications

• The Draeger DrugTest® 5000 can operate under temperature ranges similar to those used by breathalyzer devices currently being used across Canada. Additionally, it is already in use successfully in cold weather countries including Poland and Russia with no issues.
• Oral fluid testing technology has been deemed suitable for Canadian weather in a pilot study conducted by the RCMP on behalf of Public Safety Canada. In the study, which conducted over 1,000 tests in temperatures ranging from minus 50 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius, only 1.2% of tests were not able to be performed due to extreme weather.
• The DrugTest® 5000 is currently the only roadside drug testing device that features a built-in temperature control functionality, ensuring optimal performance in a broad range of weather conditions. Furthermore, the main device is designed to remain inside the police cruiser, meaning it does not have to be outside for a test to be conducted and is therefore protected from the elements.
• A strict standard has been set by the DDC for any device to be used in Canada. The device has gone through rigorous testing by the CSFS and the National Research Council of Canada to ensure it is appropriate for Canada and was approved.

Accuracy

• The Draeger DrugTest® 5000 is one of the most reliable devices of its kind on the market. When it comes to roadside drug testing, this device provides an unparalleled level of accuracy, with a decade-long track record of real-world use and by law enforcement in the UK, Australia and the U.S.
• Recent government agency testing in California showed that the Dräger DrugTest® 5000 was 98.7 per cent accurate for THC and 99.1 per cent accurate for cocaine.*

Testing Times

• The average sample will take 60 seconds or less. It can take up to 4 minutes for extreme cases of dry mouth. The test then takes approximately 4.5 minutes to analyze the sample.

The Device's Place in Drug Screening Protocols

• The DrugTest® 5000 is one tool in a series of tools and protocols designed for law enforcement, who will still be conducting field sobriety tests and using Drug Recognition Experts.
• According to protocol, drug tests will only be used as a screening device if an officer has a probable suspicion that a driver is impaired. In the event that the device identifies the presence of drugs above the cutoff limit, drivers will undergo further testing to rule out medical reasons for the suspected impairment or a blood sample before charges are laid.

With Statistics Canada recently revealing that in the first half of 2018 alone, 14% of cannabis users with a valid driver's licence reported driving within two hours of using cannabis,** it is clear Canadian law enforcement will have to actively monitor drugged driving. Draeger Safety Canada is proud to provide a screening system that will aid police in testing drivers for the recent use of cannabis and cocaine, helping to save lives and make roads safer.

In a survey conducted on behalf of Draeger Safety Canada in conjunction with Arrive Alive, 92% of respondents believe that consumption of cannabis impairs driving performance and 88% of respondents supported police use of roadside oral fluid testing technology to help keep the roads safe.

With a 125-year history, Draeger is a global leader in medical and safety technology and a pioneer in roadside drug detection technology. Draeger is committed to drawing on decades of work with governments and law enforcement agencies to provide tools and training to help identify drivers driving under the influence of drugs.

* https://wesavelives.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Comparison-of-Laboratory-Based-Oral-Fluid-Results-with-Field-Based-Screening.pdf

** https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/181011/dq181011b-eng.htm

SOURCE Dräger Safety Canada