Drug driving: action needed
The future of roads minister, Lilian Greenwood, has indicated an interest in learning more about technology that can speed up the prosecution of drug driving offenders.
Responding to a question from Andrew Snowden MP in parliament, Ms Greenwood expressed a willingness to learn about the saliva-based system, which is already in use in Australia and France.
Under the system, evidential saliva samples are taken at the roadside from drivers who fail an initial DrugWipe test.
The saliva samples are processed in laboratories within days, potentially allowing prosecutions to be completed in weeks rather than months, according to D.tec International, who supplies the DrugWipe kits to UK police forces.
D.tec International has welcomed the renewed focus on tackling drug driving, describing the existing system,, as ‘slow and ineffective’. D.tec says that drivers often remain on the roads for up to six months before prosecution, with some reoffending multiple times during this period.
Recent data shows that 33,020 drivers were convicted of drug driving multiple times in the 11 years up to July 2024. Among them, 3,431 were caught on four or more occasions, while 54 individuals were prosecuted at least ten times.
The provisional estimates are based on data supplied by police forces by May 2024. A small amount of missing data has been estimated. Figures will change following updates from the police and the end of year validation process. This is likely to be published in September 2024.
They could cause tiredness, dizziness or grogginess, as well as compromising a driver’s vision and reaction time.
“That’s why we recommend you check with your GP or pharmacist, and you have a careful read of any warnings contained on the labels of the medicines you plan to take.
“The same road traffic laws apply to medicines as to illicit drugs. So if your driving is impaired and you cause a collision, you risk prosecution and the loss of your licence.”
Peter Slater, chair of RSGB NE, said: “Speeding features as a factor in a large number of casualties on the region’s roads and we know that if motorists just slowed down, we could drastically reduce the severity of many collisions. “During the last five years, the figures have remained stubbornly high. We want to remind all road users that speed limits are there for a reason. People should drive for the roads and the conditions. “Driving at a higher speed means you have less time to react. The faster you’re driving, the more likely someone will be killed in a collision, especially pedestrians. Nobody wants that on their conscience.”
“In Ireland the figure is 18 per 1,000 population, whilst in France it’s 109”.
Recording the number of people injured in road traffic collisions involving e-scooters means the risk of harm to the rider and the risk of harm to other road users can be better understood. The official data for all road traffic casualties, regardless of type of mobility, are based on police records. It has long been recognised and accepted that when comparing the official data with the number of people presenting at hospital with an injury from a road traffic collision, there are discrepancies.
This study found that:
fewer than 10% of casualties with any level of injury from a collision involving an e-scooter presenting to emergency departments were recorded in the official data;
Around a quarter of those most seriously injured in collisions involving e-scooters were recorded by both the police and at hospitals.
, and raising community understanding of why these laws are needed.” Kristin Smith, global head of road safety policy at Uber, said: “We are proud to support the Alliance in the formation of a global working group to address the issue of helmets for the growing number of two and three wheelers. “We hope to leverage our scale to improve helmet use and motorcycle safety on and off the platform.”
“For a 24-hour period starting at 0700 on Wednesday 21 September police officers all over the UK will build on the excellent work they already do and focus their efforts even more to encourage compliance with speed limits, because we know lower speeds mean fewer road deaths.
The DfT says seatbelt wearing rates for vehicle occupants ‘remained high in 2021’, estimated as 94.8% for drivers, 94.6% for front seat passengers and 91.5% for rear seat passengers. Among car drivers, the compliance rates were slightly greater – at 97.2% of drivers, 96.8% of front seat passengers and 92.2% of rear seat passengers.
However, with data showing that 23% of car occupant fatalities in 2020 were not wearing a seatbelt, the DfT says those who do not wear a seatbelt are ‘disproportionately likely to be killed in road collisions’.
