Getting higher
Drug driving stats are a downer
One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving are failing roadside drug tests.
This is leading to concerns that not enough is being done to tackle the issue.
A Freedom of Information request was submitted to all 45 police forces in the UK, with 31 forces providing data, including the Metropolitan Police.
A high
According to the data obtained by IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s leading road safety charity, more than half (51%) of drivers tested positive during roadside testing in 2023, while in 2024, 49% of drivers tested positive in the first 7 months of the year.
This is based on failure rate data provided by 17 of the 31 police forces that responded to the FOI request.
Meanwhile, Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that the number of deceased drivers with ‘impairment drugs’ present has increased by over 70% from 2014 to 2022.
However, all the figures from 2015 need to be appreciated, along with the fact that new drug-driving limits were introduced in March 2015.
It means that the classification, measuring and recording of drug impairment in drivers changed dramatically from this point.
While this does not undermine the seriousness of the issue, it does give some background to the apparent huge rise in drug-driving statistics over the last decade.
Crossing the line
The prime times of the year for catching offenders are during the party season, which includes summer festivals and Christmas.
This coincides with Operation Limit, a national policing operation conducted annually during various festivities to reduce drink and drug-driving.
Police Scotland recorded the most failed tests in December 2023 and January 2024, with 526 offenders, followed by Greater Manchester Police with 397 and Surrey Police with 368.
Most commentators accept that the leisure drug culture has increased significantly over the last two decades.
Come down
While police do not need a reason to stop a vehicle, they must have a reasonable suspicion that the motorist is under the influence of drugs before asking them to submit to a drug test.
A roadside swab test, which identifies whether motorists have taken cannabis or cocaine on the spot, was introduced in 2015.
However, some forces only started recording data in 2023. This means that the actual number of drivers with drugs detected is likely to be much higher.
Driving after taking illegal drugs is against the law, and driving after taking legal drugs is also breaking the law if it impairs driving.
Lilian Greenwood, the UK’s minister for the future of roads, has expressed interest in exploring new technologies to accelerate the prosecution process for drug driving offences.
What’s on offer
‘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.
A conviction for drug driving can lead to a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison, and a criminal record.
The conviction stays on a driving licence for 11 years.
Convicted motorists are also likely to see their insurance costs increase significantly, and may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA.
More help and advice
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.”