Drug driving charges rocket by 140% after tough new laws introduced
Despite the rise in arrests, one-fifth of motorists do not know it is an offence to drive while impaired by prescription drugs
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Your support makes all the difference.The number of motorists being charged for drug driving offences has soared by 140 per cent in the last 12 months, new figures show.
According to data from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by Confused.com, more than 2,090 drivers from across the UK were charged with driving while under the influence of drugs in 2015, compared to just 870 in 2014.
This huge rise coincides with new drug driving laws put into place in March 2015, which added a number of prescription drugs to the list of banned substances.
The changes to the law also gave police new 'drugalyser' devices, which they can use to test drivers for cannabis, cocaine and other drugs at the roadside.
While the most common drugs used by arrested drivers were illegal substances, prescription medications like diazepam and codeine also made it into the list.
According to the website's research, around 12 per cent of British motorists have admitted to driving while under the influence of prescription drugs - however, 20 per cent of those surveyed said they did not know it is an offence to drive while impaired by certain medications.
As summer approaches and millions of Britons stock up on antihistamines to combat hayfever, the research may have broad implications.
Despite the drowsiness they can cause, 64 per cent of hayfever sufferers admitted to driving while using antihistamines. Worryingly, 7 per cent of respondents said their ability to drive has been impaired while using them, with around one in 20 admitting they have had an accident as a result of driving under the influence of the medicine.
The prescription drugs which you can be arrested for driving under the influence of are:
- Amphetamine
- Clonazepam, often used to treat seizures
- Diazepam, typically prescribed for anxiety
- Flunitrazepam, a sleeping medicine
- Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety drug
- Methadone, a substitute drug used to treat heroin addiction
- Morphine or other opiate and opioid-based drugs, like codeine, tramadol and other painkillers
- Oxazepam, often used for anxiety disorders
- Temazepam, another sleeping drug
Most doses of these prescription drugs fall under the legal limit, and if you've been prescribed these drugs and they're not impairing your driving, they are legal to use. If they affect your performance on the road, however, you may break the law.
The penalties for drug driving include a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison and a criminal record.
Matt Lloyd, a Confused.com motoring expert, said it was reassuring to see that more drug drivers are being dealt with by the police.
"There is, however, another area for concern around the level of awareness among drivers when it comes to how certain medications can affect a person's driving ability," he said.
"This is particularly alarming given the current time of year, especially as more than a third of motorists admit to suffering from hayfever, with many resorting to medication to help combat the symptoms - despite the potential risks of drowsiness and reduced concentration levels."
With hayfever season fast approaching and drug driving arrests on the rise, many drivers would do well to play it safe when using certain medications.
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