Roadside drug tests for UK drivers

The police in England and Wales are introducing roadside tests to check whether drivers are under the influence of drugs. The crackdown on drug driving will see recently approved testing kits being used by traffic officers for enforcement purposes. Concern has been expressed following recent studies showing large numbers of drivers get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. Young male drivers pose a particular risk for getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. There are also
January 27, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The police in England and Wales are introducing roadside tests to check whether drivers are under the influence of drugs. The crackdown on drug driving will see recently approved testing kits being used by traffic officers for enforcement purposes. Concern has been expressed following recent studies showing large numbers of drivers get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. Young male drivers pose a particular risk for getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. There are also proven links showing a high incidence of those using drugs being involved in a range of driving offences as well as crimes such as burglary. With the new kits finally being introduced to police, drivers being stopped on suspicion of being under the influence will not know whether they will be tested for drink, drugs or both. The kits use saliva samples to test for an array of different drugs and received official approval following a series of tests carried out by police forces across the country.

Related Content

  • DUI strategies around the world
    December 11, 2017
    New strategies in several developed countries are being introduced in strategies to try to reduce the incidences of driving under the influence. The Pan-European police group, Tispol, reports that In the Netherlands, officers will commence road-side saliva tests to catch drug driving offenders. Early results since the programme launched in July have been described as ‘the tip of the iceberg’. Like other countries, the Netherlands already had laws against drug driving, but enforcement was based on
    Read More
  • Measures needed to increase awareness of cyclists
    May 4, 2012
    The latest official data shows a continuing improvement in road safety statistics in both France and the UK. However the data also reveals worrying trends in accidents concerning vulnerable road users. Department for Transport figures for 2010 have revealed a 17% drop in road fatalities to 1,850. But 111 pedal cyclists died in 2010, compared with 104 in 2009, with cyclist fatalities in capital London of particular concern. The DfT believes that the severe winter weather, lower traffic in general due to th
    Read More
  • Police call fortougher alcohol limits for UK drivers
    May 20, 2015
    The British Police Federation calling for the blood alcohol limit to be lowered. This call has also been backed by the campaigning road safety charity, Brake as well as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA). Evidence from Scotland where the drink driving limit was lowered during 2014 has shown a reduction in drink driving offences. This move would bring the UK into line with other European countries with regard to alcohol limits by reducing the level from the current 80mg/100ml of blood
    Read More
  • Questions over effect of tough sentences for driving offenders
    June 17, 2014
    A UK academic claims that research shows higher prison sentences are unlikely to deter death by driving offences. University of Leicester professor Sally Kyd Cunningham suggests new laws from the UK Government could fail as a deterrent to crimes committed while driving. In the wake of the Government’s recent announcement of a comprehensive review of driving offences and penalties, an academic from the University of Leicester has argued that higher prison sentences could fail to act as a deterrent against de
    Read More

Highlighted Content