Drink driving continues to be a menace on UK roads, but drug driving could quickly catch up and become as big a threat to road safety.
Latest police figures released, show 37.7% of drivers stopped for suspected drug driving over the festive period had drugs in their bloodstream compared with the 6.6% of motorists that failed alcohol breathalyser tests.
Studies also show that nearly one-in-five motorists killed on our roads had some kind of illicit drug in their bloodstream, a six-fold increase over 10 years and nearly as high as alcohol fatalities.
Just 666 drivers were tested for impairment through drugs over the Christmas period, however, compared with more than 145,867 alcohol tests. Police have no equipment for roadside testing of suspected drug drivers, so have to use various balancing tests!
Sadly we, in Britain have some of the worst drug driving offenders in Europe. Many people just don’t realise the effects that illegal drugs have on their ability to drive and to think straight, and this may be part of the reason why young people in particular continue to drive while impaired by drugs.
Well, the sooner the Home Office or some bright spark invents a “drug-al- yser” the better because while these offenders can get away with it, they will.
Jackie Violet