On April 5th, 2022 the Department of Transport released a call for evidence on the idea of creating a drug-drivers high-risk offender and rehabilitation scheme.
As noted in their call for evidence the DfT is seeking evidence on the creation of a drug-drivers:
- high-risk offender scheme that requires clearance at a medical level to regain a drivers licence
- rehabilitation course to help offenders tackle their issues.
RoadPeace fully supports this call for evidence and below we have included a portion of our Policies and Positions document regarding the issue of drug-driving.
Issues:
● Enforcement of the drug driving laws varies dramatically across the country. Some police forces convict 10 times more drug drivers than others.
● Some police forces now have as many convictions for drug driving as drink driving while in other forces patrols are rationed to a single test.
● 12,391 people were convicted of a drug driving offence in 2019. These numbers are rising fast.
● Nearly half of drug drive offences (44%) are committed by a reoffender
● 67% of those convicted of drug driving had one or more previous convictions, typically for theft/burglary or drug-related offences.
● There is no requirement for a drug test to be undertaken following a fatal or serious injury collision.
● Data on the number of collisions involving drug driving is lacking. We do not know how many people are drug driving, how many people are killed or seriously injured by drug driving, nor how many drug tests are undertaken.
RoadPeace position:
● Levels of drug driving enforcement should be increased in the UK, particularly in those police force areas where levels are low. The impact of increases on road casualties should be closely monitored.
● The number of drugs which roadside preliminary drug tests detect should be increased, starting with amphetamine (including MDMA and methamphetamine). Senior police officers and Police and Crime Commissioners should clearly communicate their need for this feature to the Home Office, Department for Transport and manufacturers.
● Drug drive checks should be treated as a priority for the police, and police performance in this area should be evaluated.
● Every driver involved in a casualty crash should be tested for drug driving.
● The worst drug drive offenders who cause injury deserve a longer maximum custodial sentence than six months.
● Longer driving bans and vehicle confiscations are needed. Bans should be increased, with lifetime bans for drug drivers who cause a death.
● The Department for Transport should produce and publish robust offence and casualty data on drug driving using coroner data and other sources, as for drink driving.
Further References:
PACTS, Drug Driving – The tip of the iceberg
Updated on: 12 April 2022