UK police clampdown on Christmas drug and drink driving
December marks the season of goodwill and partying in the run up the Christmas. For the police this means an increase in drink driving and drug driving incidents. This year many police forces are starting their anti-drink driving campaigns early and many have made it clear to drivers that they now carry out on-the-spot tests for drugs.
Although most motorists are well aware of the risks and consequences of driving after drinking alcohol, many are now reportedly using illegal drugs instead, because they believe they are less likely to be caught.
Sussex Police have launched their Christmas driving safety campaign using video footage of the actual arrest of 29-year-old Jason Fray, who was caught driving under the influence of ketamine. Fray was unable to walk along a straight line when he was pulled over by police just before Christmas 2013. He was given a four-month ban and fined £335.
West Midlands Police have announced that they are fully equipped with new drug testing kits, which they will use on any motorists they pull over during the Christmas period.
The drug testing kits detect cannabis and other illegal drugs. Drug driving is a growing problem with many drivers choosing to drive after taking some form of drug.
West Midlands Police’s Inspector Greg Jennings said: “We continue to target drunk drivers who put themselves and others at risk when they get behind the wheel. However, it’s not just drink driving that kills and injures – we see too many people who seem to think it is acceptable to drive when they are using, or have recently used, cannabis and other illegal drugs. Drugs impair reaction times just as much as drinking and so we will be out to catch those who illegally possess, use and drive with illegal drugs in their system.”
Name and shame
As well as testing drivers, West Midlands Police will be naming and shaming drivers who are charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
They believe that this approach may be more effective than a simple police caution because many people will act more responsibly if they know that employers, family and friends become aware of their habits. Last year they named on their website 205 drivers who were charged to appear before court.
The inspector went on to add that Christmas is always a peak period with so many people out celebrating and perhaps behaving differently to normal.
Drug driving kills
Recent changes to the law will make it an offence to drive when illegal drugs are present in the body. The police are finally starting to make some progress in combating the growing problem of drug driving.
As with drink driving, police cannot take an accurate reading from the roadside, but being able to detect traces of drugs on the breath allows them to make an arrest and take a blood sample, which does provide an accurate result.
Driving while under the influence of drugs kills 200 people every year, but such drivers are still far less likely to be caught. With the development of more advanced drug-testing kits that allow police officers to carry out on-the-spot tests for common illegal substances all that is set to change.