Government’s Drug Law Proposal
Recent research has found that 11% of younger drivers were under the influence of illegal substances during the past year whilst they were behind the wheel of a car. With more youngsters taking drugs on a regular basis it was discovered that 18% of crash fatalities have drugs in their blood system, prompting the Government to take appropriate action on the issue.
The road safety charity Brake and Direct Line Car Insurance reported in their survey that out of drivers aged 17-24, 3% have no qualms over regularly driving whilst under the influence of drugs which are banned.
Of people that are killed in road accidents approximately 18% of them had traces of illegal substances in their blood. Cannabis was found to be the most common, according to the Transport Research Laboratory, with a French study a couple of years back discovering that by taking this particular drug can virtually double your chances of being a fatality in a car crash.
With these astonishing statistics it is hardly surprising that the Government is being looked upon to reform the drug driving laws. Proposals were initially launched in March 2011, including making law which makes it an offence to drive whilst on illegal drugs. At present it is only an offence to drive whilst impaired by drugs, which means the police have to prove the impairment in order to be able to prosecute.
The Government are looking into the introduction of roadside drug screening, just like they can currently test you for drink driving if you are pulled over. Having called in the experts to conduct further scientific research on the effect of drugs on the driver in order to create a new criminal offence, it is expected a new legislation will be proposed in due course.
We all want our roads to be a safer place, and as always, that includes making sure you have legal and safe car tyres.