UK drug-driving in the spotlight

A panel of scientists and academics is being established by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to advise on the possible implementation of rules covering drug-driving, along the lines of existing drink-driving laws. MDMA, cocaine, opiates and cannabis are seen by the DfT as the primary drugs for consideration. The experts will examine whether such a law should be introduced, with elements such as possible legal limits to be looked into. If it is decided the move is technically feasible, with regard to pu
March 23, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A panel of scientists and academics is being established by the UK 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) to advise on the possible implementation of rules covering drug-driving, along the lines of existing drink-driving laws. MDMA, cocaine, opiates and cannabis are seen by the DfT as the primary drugs for consideration. The experts will examine whether such a law should be introduced, with elements such as possible legal limits to be looked into. If it is decided the move is technically feasible, with regard to putting in place a universal level regarding medicinal or illegal drugs, alongside roadside testing, legislation may be brought in.

Meanwhile, UK road safety charity 4235 Brake and 4236 Direct Line Car Insurance are calling for the government to push through proposals on tackling drug driving, as a survey reveals one in nine young drivers (11 per cent) has driven on illegal drugs in the past year.

The survey by Brake and Direct Line found that three per cent of young drivers (age 17-24) said they get behind the wheel after taking drugs once a month or more. Slightly more young drivers are admitting drug driving than four years ago, when one in 11 young drivers (nine per cent) owned up to this behaviour.

Brake is calling for long-needed reform, including a new law making it an offence to drive while on illegal drugs, to rectify an existing loophole. Currently it is only an offence to drive while impaired by drugs, meaning police must prove impairment to prosecute. Brake is also calling for approval and roll-out of roadside drug screening devices, so police can test for drugs at the roadside and immediately following a crash.

Brake has produced a fact page on drug driving which is available at this link: %$Linker: External 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.brake.org.uk/facts/drug-driving-an-overview.htm Fact Page on Drug Driving false http://www.brake.org.uk/facts/drug-driving-an-overview.htm false false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Tattile expands range with ANPR Mobile cameras
    March 3, 2014
    Leading Italian ITS company Tattile will use Intertraffic Amsterdam 2014 to expand its product range with the launch of new products, including ANPR Mobile and Vega Color. ANPR Mobile, a new cutting-edge technology in support of police forces, incorporates Megapixel sensors enabling it to scan over 100 number plates per second, front and rear, at any light condition. The newly-launched system needs neither embedded processing units nor physical connection between the cameras and the onboard computer/tab
    Read More
  • Vehicle data translator for road weather monitoring
    February 1, 2012
    Sheldon Drobot, Michael Chapman and Amanda Anderson, NCAR, and Paul Pisano, FHWA, detail latest results of testing of a vehicle data translator for road weather monitoring and information applications. The use of vehicle sensor data to improve weather and road condition products, envisioned as part of the US Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration's (RITA's) IntelliDriveSM initiative, could revolutionise the provision of road weather information to transportation syste
    Read More
  • Kapsch tackles rapidly evolving urban mobility
    March 20, 2018
    Urban mobility in today’s cities is evolving at a rapid pace. Cities are facing huge challenges oneased congestion. Additionally, in this transitional period cities are also faced with the evolution of urban mobility, with new mobility services such as electric and connected/autonomous vehicles. This requires an urgent need for urban traffic management and integrated mobility. Against this background, Kapsch is demonstrating live how
    Read More
  • White paper - the use of LED lighting strobes within ITS
    March 19, 2013
    Specialist in the design and manufacture of LED illumination and control solutions for machine vision and intelligent traffic applications, Gardasoft, has recently published a White Paper which discusses the use of LED strobe vision lighting within intelligent transportation systems (ITS). The successful cost-effective application of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is often dependent on the interplay of many individual system elements, although other technology, such as cameras, often gains the majori
    Read More

Highlighted Content