Calls for roadside tests to be used in court as | Tech News

The AA is calling on the Government to introduce new measures to tackle drug driving in a bid to improve road safety across the UK.

Whilst many motorists are aware of the dangers of getting behind the wheel whilst over the legal alcohol limit, an increasing number are driving whilst impaired by drugs such as cocaine and cannabis.

Jack Cousins, head of roads policy at The AA, suggested that the UK’s attitude towards drug driving needs to be overhauled to educate drivers of the dangers the offence can have.

He explained: “Drug driving is fast becoming a major road safety concern which needs urgent action.

“Modernising the prosecution process can help take more dangerous drivers off the road, while keeping costs down for police forces. Similarly, just one in 10 believe that drug drivers will be caught and prosecuted, which often means people feel they can get away with it.”

With the Government recently introducing a revised version of the Crime and Policing Bill in Parliament, which aims to tackle different forms of antisocial behaviour, The AA highlighted that now is the perfect time to crack down on drug driving.

Under current law, drivers who are suspected to be under the influence of drugs will be stopped and issued a roadside test. If it is positive, the motorist would need to give a blood sample, which could take up to six months to obtain results for.

As a result, The AA has suggested that the initial roadside tests be used as evidence of drug driving in court cases, which could make the process much more efficient.

Ean Lewin, managing director of the drug and alcohol testing service D.tec International, noted that the current system runs the risk of allowing offending drivers to get behind the wheel long after being caught, sometimes not being punished at all.

He added: “For over a decade, we have allowed a broken system to keep drug drivers on our roads while victims and their families continue to suffer. Right now, a driver who fails a roadside drug test can legally remain behind the wheel for up to six months – and if they plead Not Guilty, potentially for over a year.

“This is solely because outdated laws force police to rely on impractical blood confirmation testing, plagued by inherent laboratory delays. Worse still, an unknown number of offenders escape justice entirely when these delays exceed the six-month prosecution window. That is nothing short of a national disgrace.”