A scientific panel has recommended limits for illegal and medicinal drugs in the blood stream which could form part of the new drug driving offence included in the Crime & Courts Bill currently before Parliament.

The panel was asked to consider which drugs should be included in the list and how drugs affect people in terms of the increased risk of causing road traffic accidents. There are 200 drug related driving deaths in Great Britain a year according to Government figures.

Cocaine, amphetemines, THC tetrahydrocannabinol (the main active ingredient of cannabis), MDMA ‘ectasy’, morphine, methadone, diazepam and cionazepam are included in the list.

In a written statement to Parliament last week Transport Minister Stephen Hammond said that Government would careful consider the panel’s recommendations. “In doing so we are clear that the design of the new offence must send the strongest possible message that you cannot take any amount of illegal drugs and drive.

“At the same time the Government must consider the position of those who legitimately and safely use medicines which may contain controlled drugs. We must ensure that we do not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly prescribed or supplied drugs in line with medical advice.”

Government will make specific proposals later this year that will be subject to public consultation.

The scientific panel also recommended that blood samples taken at accidents should be routinely tested against a universal list of substances to improve data on the impact of a range of drugs on driving. And it said medical advice warning about the risks of consuming drugs and driving particularly if any alcohol has also been drunk should be strengthened.

You can read the recommendations here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-under-the-influence-of-drugs--2

(Photo: Zx2)

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