Legal News
One in Nine Young Adults Drive While High On Illegal Substances (6 January 2012)
Date: 06/01/2012
One in nine young adults has driven following taking illegal substances, a report has revealed. The statistics were published by the road safety charity, Brake. Because of its findings, the charity has urged the Government to introduce roadside “drugalysers”, designed to measure whether motorists have been using illegal substances. Existing drug-driving tests are able to measure a motorist's ability to drive but are unable to detect whether or not they have been taking illegal substances. Currently, it is an offence for a motorist to be in control of a vehicle while “impaired” by drugs. However, the police must successfully be able to prove this in order to prosecute.
Ellen Booth, the senior campaign officer for Brake, has told of how youngsters were risking their own lives and the lives of others when driving under the influence of drugs. Ms. Booth has urged all motorists not to be tempted to drive following using illegal substances and has called upon the Government to take immediate action to tackle the problem. Ms. Booth has described current drug-driving laws as “totally inadequate”.
A spokesperson for Direct Line Car Insurance has told of how the effects of drugs can result in motorists engaging in dangerous driving and has added that action must be taken to ensure that motorists who control a car under the influence of drugs can be prosecuted with greater ease.
Duncan Lewis’ criminal law department can represent motorists who have been accused of driving under the influence of drugs.