The problems of defining impairment in UK legislation, measures of driver performance, and increasing use of illicit drugs by drivers are outlined. A road accident fatalities study from 1996-2000 tested for the presence of 11 classes of drugs (including alcohol). 8.2% of fatalities tested positive for canabis, 1.8% for amphetamines and 1.2% for opiates. 5.7% had taken multiple drugs. The drug driving prosecution rate suggests that drug impaired drivers go undetected by the police. Ways of improving enforcement techniques were investigated. Police training in recognising signs of drug use and in field impairment testing was undertaken prior to roadside trials. 26 drivers failing a field impairment test were tested for drugs and 24 proved positive for at least one drug. It is considered that the training provided easily applied techniques for the police to detect drug driving offenders. Trials of roadside drug screening using Drugwipe to test perspiration and Cozart to tet saliva are described. Options to enforce drug driving legislation include zero tolerance or demonstrable impairment.
Abstract