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UK: Random drug checks net drivers
Alastair Dalton The Scotsman
Tuesday 10 Aug 2004 ONE in 20 motorists stopped in one of Britain's first random roadside drugs tests was found to have taken substances that could have affected their driving. The checks, in Glasgow, also showed that 11 per cent of those tested had smaller traces of drugs in their bodies, an international road safety conference in the city heard yesterday. The substances detected included cannabis, ecstasy and codeine. The checks on nearly 1,300 drivers took place at six locations across the city over a year, using saliva taken by cotton swabs. The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), which conducted the tests, said 5 per cent of drivers had drug concentrations above a "cut off" level at which their driving could be impaired, although this had not been proved. Dr Su Buttress, of the TRL, said 11 per cent of those tested had potentially impairing drugs in their bodies, but at minor levels. The study took place in Glasgow so the results could be analysed by Dr John Oliver, a leading expert in the field, at Glasgow University. However, roadside testing was used because taking samples from road accident victims in hospitals is barred under Scots law. Motoring groups said the study results showed that greater effort should be devoted to tackling drug driving. Sue Nicholson, the head of campaigns for the RAC Foundation, said: "This is worrying because research in Scotland has shown that young people who would not dream of drink driving would drive after taking drugs. "There is a huge concentration on speeding to the detriment of drink and drug driving. Many drivers now believe that if they are not involved in an accident and don't speed, they won't get caught." Ms Nicholson said new roadside technology to enable the detection of drugs was also awaited. However, the International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety heard that the effect of drugs on drivers was far more complex than that of alcohol. Dr David Osselton, a senior consultant toxicologist at the governments Forensic Science Service, said there was no clear correlation between drug concentrations and the signs and symptoms of impairment. As a result, drug levels above which a driver would be impaired could not be defined. He said: "Drugs affect different people in different ways and the courts find that quite difficult to grapple with." Dr Osselton warned the situation was made more complex by drivers routinely taking both "drug cocktails" and alcohol. He said: "Alcohol below the statutory limit can interact with even low concentrations of drugs like cocaine and cannabis to produce marked impairment." The forensic scientist suggested a change in the law was necessary because legislation prevented samples taken in drug-driving cases being analysed for alcohol too. Dr Osselton also warned that drug driving could become an increasing problem as the numbers of older drivers rose. He said more than 80 per cent of people aged over 65 were taking at least one prescription medicine, and there was greater use of sleep-inducing drugs. David Jamieson, the road safety minister, told the conference that drug driving was a "newer problem and considerably more complex [than drink driving]".
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