Drug-driving on the increase – IAM RoadSmart
More than half of drivers pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside tests, according to data obtained by IAM RoadSmart.
It submitted a Freedom of Information request to all 45 police forces with 31 providing a response.
Based on that data, it was revealed that 51% of drivers tested positive during roadside testing in 2023, while that figure was 49% in the first seven months of the year of 2024.
Police Scotland recorded the most failed tests in December 2023 and January 2024 with a total of 526 offenders, followed by Greater Manchester Police with 397 and Surrey Police with 368.
Driving after taking illegal drugs is against the law, and driving after taking legal drugs is also breaking the law if it impairs driving.
‘Impairment drugs’ fall into three categories: psychoactive medications such as benzodiazepines; psychoactive drugs that could be prescribed, abused or used in emergency medical treatment such as morphine, alfentanil, fentanyl, ketamine; and drugs that are prone to abuse, such as cocaine and LSD, which have no medical use according to The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Drug-driving a ‘growing epidemic’
IAM RoadSmart policy manager William Porter said:
“The fact that one in two motorists are failing roadside drugs tests shows that the message about the dangers of drug-driving is not getting through. Separate research by IAM RoadSmart indicates that one in seven (16%) drivers aged 17-34 admitted to getting behind the wheel after taking class A drugs, indicating how vital it is to tackle this growing epidemic.
“We urgently need a new approach to combat drug-driving which focuses on both greater enforcement and establishing rehabilitation courses to reduce reoffending.
“The evidence shows that those taking equivalent drink-drive courses are almost three times less likely to reoffend than those who don’t. Ministers must consider expanding similar courses to those with drug-driving convictions.”
