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Roadside drug testing has now been rolled out across New Zealand following successful trials in Wellington. While the focus is on improving road safety, the change could also have impacts for businesses where workers drive between sites, move vehicles, or travel to and from blocks and orchards on public roads.

Here’s what employers need to know.

What do the roadside tests check for?

There has been some confusion in the media about prescription medications triggering roadside drug tests and leaving drivers stranded. To clarify the facts, we’ve spoken with NZ Police, pharmacists, and experts involved in the supply and use of the saliva testing devices.

The roadside saliva tests are designed to detect specific drugs at set threshold levels. Many common prescription medications, including ADHD medications, will not trigger a positive roadside result, either because they are not included in the test panel or because the detectable thresholds are set well above normal prescription levels.

What about medicinal cannabis?

Medicinal cannabis containing THC can trigger a roadside drug test, even if it has been legally prescribed by a doctor.

The test does not distinguish between medicinal and recreational cannabis; it simply detects the presence of THC.

This is particularly relevant for businesses where workers are regularly driving utes, trucks, or other vehicles between sites or on public roads. If you have workers who use prescribed medicinal cannabis, both you and they must understand the risk of being stuck. A confidential conversation can help everyone understand the potential impacts for driving, vehicle/stock movements and workplace safety.

How the testing process works

The process is similar to alcohol testing and involves two stages.

Initial roadside screening test: This indicates whether target drugs may be present.
Confirmatory test: If the first test is positive, a second test is conducted to confirm the result.

While false positives are considered very unlikely, they are not impossible.

What this means for your business

If one of your drivers returns a positive roadside test, they will be stood down immediately and unable to continue driving, even if they believe the result is incorrect or related to prescribed medication.

This could mean a worker is left roadside in a rural area, and the vehicle or load cannot be moved until another authorised driver arrives. During busy or time-sensitive periods like harvest or stock transfers, even a short delay can have a knock-on effect across the operation.

This is not a new challenge for some industries. However, many businesses rely on small teams, seasonal workers, or contractors, and may not yet have considered how they would manage this situation.

Potential consequences include operational disruption, delays to time-critical work, and additional costs if vehicles or staff need to be recovered at short notice.

What should businesses do now?

The best first step is simply to talk about it with your team. Consider asking a simple question:

If a driver was stood down at the roadside, what would we do next?

Some practical things to think through include who could step in to take over driving, how they would be contacted (especially in areas with limited coverage), and whether workers know what to do if they are stopped while travelling between sites. It’s also worth considering whether any staff are on prescribed medications that could affect their ability to drive, and talking it through to make sure it is managed appropriately and confidentially.

It may also be helpful to write down a basic plan. Even a simple process shows that the situation has been considered and discussed with your team.

Need to talk it through?

If you’d like to discuss how roadside drug testing might affect your business, feel free to give us a call.

The NZ Police have detailed information here: https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/drugs-and-alcohol/updates-drug-driving-legislation