UK drug driving problem is one of the worst in Europe

As the number of people driving under the influence of illegal drugs in the UK reaches critical levels, leading motor insurer MORE TH>N is pushing for the speedy introduction of roadside drugs screening devices similar to those being used successfully in other countries, including Germany, Switzerland and Australia.

British drivers are among the worst drug driving offenders in Europe and the new research carried out by MORE TH>N reveals that more than a fifth of people admit to driving shortly after taking illegal drugs, and seven per cent of them have been involved in an accident while impaired by drugs.

The research shows that although nine in ten of people surveyed do not think that drug driving is safe, 38 per cent of those who did admit to drug driving think that their driving skills are not affected by drugs or that their behaviour is safe. In comparison, 94 per cent of those surveyed said that they would not drive if they thought they were over the legal blood alcohol limit.

A TURN FOR THE WORSE
The frequency of drug driving in the UK is frightening, the MORE TH>N research reveals. Four per cent of drug drivers admit to getting behind the wheel while impaired several times every week and a further one in ten do so every month. Furthermore, the types of drugs that drivers are taking are changing for the worse, with a shift from ‘softer’ drugs like cannabis to harder drugs such as cocaine. Additional research has shown that the number of people admitting to recent cocaine use has increased by 144% in the three years from February 2003 to February 2006, and there was a nine-fold increase in British road fatalities with cocaine in their system between 1987 and 2000.

Independent drug impairment expert and consultant to MORE TH>N, Dr Rob Tunbridge, commented: “Brits are some of the worst drug driving offenders in Europe, and drug driving could become as serious a problem in the UK as drink driving. 18 per cent of drivers killed in road accidents in this country have traces of illicit drugs in their bodies. Many people just don’t realise the effects that illegal drugs have on their ability to drive and to think straight, and this may be part of the reason why young people in particular continue to drive while impaired by drugs”.

BETTER ROADSIDE TESTING
The Home Office is currently working on a specification for roadside drug screening device that experts say would greatly assist Police in identifying drivers who have taken drugs.

Such a test, which uses body fluids like saliva or sweat to provide a drug check, would probably be employed in conjunction with the current FIT tests that rely on a police officer’s judgement as to whether a driver is impaired by drugs or not. Used together they would allow Police to more accurately judge a driver’s ability to safely operate their vehicle, give grounds to conduct a blood test if the roadside test showed positive, and then prosecute if the presence of drugs was confirmed. This is a positive step in curbing the problem, but it is unclear when the test will become available for police forces to use routinely.

Roadside drug screening devices are already in use in several countries with great success, including Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, Australia and Germany. In Germany over 150,000 roadside saliva tests are performed each year to detect drug drivers. In the interests of responsible motoring, MORE TH>N is urging for the test to be introduced in the UK as quickly as possible, to better detect drug drivers and avoid further injuries and fatalities.

Mike Holliday-Williams, Director of MORE TH>N Insurance, said, “Drug driving presents a serious risk not only to those who choose to do it, but also to other motorists on the road. For this reason it is vitally important that highly effective measures are put in place as quickly as possible to crack down on offenders. We believe that roadside screening should be a practical reality within the next two years and urge the government to introduce the test without delay”.

ALARMING ATTITUDES
Startling comments from drug drivers surveyed by MORE TH>N included:

“…At times driving on drugs is a fun experience, with music and the motion of the car”. Female, age 26-30, London

“I don’t feel it affects my driving as much as alcohol. You don’t feel like you’ve consumed as much”. Female, age 26-30, London

“I just didn’t think about it and the car was the only way to get home”. Female, age 31-35, London

“…Having people in the car with you makes you feel more confident”. Female, age 31-35, London

As well as alarming ignorance about the physical risks of drug driving, 10 per cent of the drug-drivers surveyed by MORE TH>N admitted they offend because they think they can get away with it. One third (32 per cent) said that they would be deterred if Police did more checks, and a further 13 per cent if the punishment was more severe; this is surprising given the punishment for drug-driving is the same as drink-driving – ranging from a heavy fine to disqualification or imprisonment.

Holliday-Willams concluded: “It’s crucial that this issue is tackled quickly if we are to avoid many more unnecessary deaths. It would be difficult to find someone today who wasn’t aware of the risks of drink driving, and drug driving is equally as dangerous. Nobody can justify drug driving – it’s never safe, under any circumstances”.