Brake: Law should be introduced on drug-driving

Date: 15/8/2011

Legislation needs to be introduced in the UK that makes it an offence to get behind the wheel of a car after consuming illegal drugs.

Such is the assertion of Kath Hartley from the road safety charity Brake, who says that "devastating" fatalities and serious injuries have been caused by individuals driving under the influence of such substances.

She adds that the charity wants the government to allow police officers to use drugalysers, which can be employed to detect traces of a substance in hair, saliva, blood or urine.

According to Ms Hartley, the use of this technology has proven successful in the countries where it is deployed

She concludes: "Drivers must never take drugs before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, as the consequences can be devastating."

Confused.com recently revealed that the general public is also keen to see drug-driving outlawed, with a poll it conducted finding that 71 per cent of respondents want to see more done to combat this problem.

Posted by Sarah Bailey