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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Drug-driving peril is on the increase
Charlie Morton Bristol Evening Post
Saturday 26 Jul 2003 The number of people taking drugs and driving is on the increase, with about a quarter of those involved in accidents found to be under the influence, experts have warned. While drink-driving has reduced, there is evidence that drug-driving is on the increase in the UK. The worrying trend has been identified by the RAC as part of a major study into driving habits on Britain's roads. RAC spokeswoman Rebecca Bell said that the problem of drug-driving appeared to be rising. She said: "National crime statistics show that drug use is on the rise, particularly among young people. "And that ties in with our findings that more and more people are taking to roads whilst under the influence." Since 1988, there has been a six-fold increase in the number of people killed in road accidents who had traces of illegal drugs in their body. It is an issue that has been specifically targeted in the Bristol area. Throughout May, Avon and Somerset police ran Operation Toxic, a pilot project with patrols targeting motorists who drove while unfit because they had taken drugs. Officers stopped motorists who were driving erratically and if they passed a breath test asked them to take part in a voluntary impairment test. Similar to the old roadside drink-driving check, it involved a series of physical tasks designed to demonstrate the driver's co-ordination, reflex response and concentration. The physical check was necessary because the roadside 'drugalyser' has not yet had Home Office approval and will not be available until next year at the earliest. The RAC research also revealed that despite the threats to safety from drug-driving, the vast majority of companies do not conduct random drug tests on employees. It was also revealed that nine out of ten motorists support the introduction of machines to test for the presence of illicit drugs at the roadside. Experts also concluded that driving under the influence of cannabis or marijuana is perceived as less dangerous than driving under the influence of class A drugs. While 82 per cent of motorists believe 'hard' drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and heroin are extremely dangerous, only 65 per cent think that driving under the influence of softer drugs such as cannabis or marijuana can be dangerous.
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