It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while 'unfit to drive through drink or drugs'. Road Traffic Act 1988 (4)) The legal limit for drink driving is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood RTA 1988 (11) It is also an offence if unfit to drive because of other drugs, including illegal drugs, prescribed drugs like tranquillisers and solvents. Drugs like cannabis can impair driving ability, though can affect different people in different ways.
A report by the RAC (Drink, Drugs and Driving, 2003) says that:
"While drink-driving has reduced, there is evidence that drug-driving is on the increase. Since 1988, there has been a six-fold increase in the number of people killed in road accidents who had traces of illegal drugs in their body. However, drivers do not admit to any increase in use.
3% of motorists admit to getting into a car when they knew the driver was under the influence of cannabis or marijuana and 1% of motorists admit to getting into a car when they knew the driver was under the influence of ‘harder’ drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine or amphetamines in the las 12 months.
Driving under the influence of cannabis or marijuana is perceived as less dangerous than driving under Class A drugs. 82% of motorists believe ‘hard’ drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and heroin to be extremely dangerous, compared to just 65% who perceive driving under the influence of softer drugs such as cannabis or marijuana to be extremely dangerous.
Despite the threats to safety from drug-driving, the vast majority of companies do not conduct random drug tests on employees.
9 in 10 motorists support the introduction of machines to test for the presence of illicit drugs at the roadside".
Law
In July 2003 the Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003 was passed. Chapter 20 gives police powers to use screening tests for drugs, and says that a preliminary drug test may be given at the roadside, or at a police station. A preliminary drug test is a procedure by which a specimen of sweat or saliva is obtained, but the equipment for performing these tests has not yet been approved. Driving under the influence of drugs carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and six months in jail. The penalties for drug driving are the same as for drink driving.
Resources
The Department for Transport have set up a website to give advice on drug driving at www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/drugdriving/drugdriving.htm. The Think! campaign 'Drug driving. Not a safe trip' is the first government campaign to raise awareness of the effects of drugs on people's driving.
Also website, aimed at 17 -30year olds: www.drugdrive.com/home.html
