The Government
announced plans today to crack down on those who drive while under
the influence of drugs.
Legislation unveiled in the Queen’s Speech will create a specific
drug driving offence. Currently police have to demonstrate that
driving had been impaired by drugs in order to prosecute.
Under the proposed legislation it will automatically be an
offence to drive a motor vehicle if you have certain controlled
drugs in your body in excess of specified limits. This will make
it much easier for police to take action against drug drivers.
Devices to screen for drugs in the body are expected to receive
type approval from the Home Office by the end of the year.
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:
“Drug drivers are a deadly menace – they must be stopped and that
is exactly what I intend to do.
“The new offence sends out a clear message that if you drive
whilst under the influence of drugs you will not get away with it.
“We have an enviable record on road safety in this country and I
want to keep it that way. This measure will help to rid our roads
of the irresponsible minority who risk the lives of innocent
motorists and pedestrians.”
An independent review of drink and drug driving law in 2010
recommended that a new specified limit offence should be
developed. The exact drugs covered by the offence and the
specified limits for each will be determined following advice from
an expert panel and a public consultation.
Earlier this year the Department for Transport announced the
formation of the panel and today is confirming the membership. It
includes experts in the field of alcohol and drug misuse and will
also work with officials from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice
and Department of Health.
The penalty for the new offence will be a maximum of 6 months
imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000, and an automatic
driving ban of at least 12 months.
Notes to Editors
A Government review of drink and drug driving law recommended
that the new offence should be developed.
The clause introduces an offence across Great Britain of driving
or being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst having certain
controlled drugs in the blood or urine in excess of the level
specified for each of those drugs.
It is already an offence to drive whilst impaired by drugs, and
this will remain in place alongside the new specified limit
offence. The penalty for the new offence will be a maximum of 6
months imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to £5,000, and an
automatic driving ban of at least 12 months.
The clause introduces a regulation-making power to specify which
controlled drugs and what levels of them are included in the new
offence. These drugs and levels will be specified following advice
from an expert panel, a public consultation and using affirmative
resolution procedure.
The membership of the panel is as follows: To view the table in
this release, please follow the link below.
Contacts:
DfT Press Office - Roads
Phone: DfT Press Office 020 7944 3066
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk
DfT Press Office - Local Transport
Phone: DfT Press Office
020 7944 3066
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk