The recommended limits
for 16 different drugs have now been approved following 2 government
consultations.
Yesterday (27 March 2014) the
government’s ambition to create a new drug drive limit moved a step
closer following the results of 2 public
consultations.
The recommended limits for 16
different drugs have now been approved and will see 8 generally prescription
and 8 illicit drugs added into new regulations that will come in to force in
the autumn 2014.
The new rules will mean it will
be an offence to be over the generally prescribed limits for each drug and
drive vehicle, as it is with drink driving.
Road Safety Minister Robert
Goodwill said:
The results of the consultation
is sending the strongest possible message that you cannot take illegal drugs
and drive. This new offence will make our roads safer for everyone by making it
easier for the police to tackle those who drive after taking illegal drugs. It
will also clarify the limits for those who take medication.
The next step is to take these
limits to Parliament to see the offence come into force later this
year.
In March 2013, the department
took expert advice from a medical panel on the potential drug limits that the
government should consult on. The department accepted most of the
recommendations made by the panel and has consulted on limits that are a
‘zero tolerance’ approach to deter people from taking drugs and
driving.
The limits to be included in the
new regulations are not set at 0 as drugs taken for medical conditions can be
absorbed in the body to produce trace effects.
It is also important to
recognise that different drugs are broken down at different speeds and that is
reflected in the disparities between the limits.
Therefore the limits to be
included in the new regulations are:
Illicit drugs
- Benzoylecgonine, 50
µg/L
- Cocaine, 10
µg/L
- Delta–9–Tetrahydrocan
nabinol (Cannabis and Cannabinol), 2 µg/L
- Ketamine, 20
µg/L
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
(LSD), 1 µg/L
- Methylamphetamine - 10
µg/L
- Methylenedioxymethaphetamine
(MDMA – Ecstasy), 10 µg/L
- 6-Monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM
– Heroin and Morphine), 5 µg/L
Generally prescription
drugs
- Clonazepam, 50
µg/L
- Diazepam, 550
µg/L
- Flunitrazepam, 300
µg/L
- Lorazepam, 100
µg/L
- Methadone, 500
µg/L
- Morphine, 80
µg/L
- Oxazepam, 300
µg/L
- Temazepam, 1000
µg/L
In the consultation for
amphetamine, the government has decided that the proposed limits need to be
reconsidered so that patients who take medicine for attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder are not affected. The government will therefore look to
re-consult on the new threshold later this year, with an agreed limit added in
to the legislation at a later date.
In the meantime the government
is working closely with the medical profession to ensure healthcare
professionals and patients are informed about the new drug driving offence.
Later this year will also see the start of a wider communications campaign to
make sure everyone that drives knows about the new changes to the
law.
See also