Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2013
Source: Evening Standard (London, UK)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/914
Author: Nicholas Cecil

DRIVERS FACE BAN AFTER ONE SPLIFF

Roadside Tests to Tackle 'Menace That Ruins Lives'

MOTORISTS who get behind the wheel after smoking cannabis face losing 
their licence for at least a year under a "one spliff and you're over 
the limit" crackdown.

Ministers today proposed a "zero tolerance" policy on people who 
drive after using illegal drugs. Nearly 9,000 drivers are expected to 
face prosecution a year.

Motorists found guilty will face an automatic driving ban as well as 
possibly jail of up to six months and a fine of up to UKP5,000.

The law is also expected to see a small number of people on other 
controlled drugs, usually prescribed for medical conditions, being 
found to be over the legal limit.

But ministers stressed the tough measures would save more than 100 
lives and prevent at least 500 serious injuries on the roads each year.

Roads minister Stephen Hammond named eight illegal drugs - heroin, 
cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, benzoylecgonine, methamphetamine and LSD.

The limit is set so low to mean almost any intake would put a 
motorist over. It is the lowest level at which a valid analytical 
result can be obtained, while also ruling out accidental exposure of 
"passive consumption".

Motorists would be found guilty of drug driving if they had just over 
two micrograms of cannabis per litre in their blood. Mr Hammond said: 
"Drug driving is a menace which devastates families and ruins lives. 
That is why we are proposing to take a zero tolerance approach with 
those who drive under the influence of illegal drugs and sending a 
clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated." A 
Department for Transport source added: "The idea is to make sure you 
can't smoke a spliff and drive."

Police will be able to take up to three saliva test for drugs at the 
roadside to identify any drugs used. If any of these are positive, 
then the motorist could be taken to a police station for a blood test.

Under the existing offence of being impaired by drugs while driving, 
police and prosecutors have to show how a driver's ability had been 
affected. In future, under the new offence of drug driving, they will 
simply have to show that the individual had taken drugs.

A panel of experts had suggested that the limits for most of the 
drugs should be set based on evidence of impairment to driving or on 
the increased risks of road accidents.

But in a consultation published today, the Government backed "zero 
tolerance" for illegal drugs.

For the limit on eight prescribed drugs, which include tranquillisers 
such as diazepam and temazepam, ministers are proposing a road safety 
risk approach. So patients who follow doctor's prescriptions for 
these medicines, which says they will still be safe to drive, should 
not fall foul of the new law.

But individuals who self-prescribe or take excessive doses could be 
committing an offence.

Mr Hammond said: "We know that the vast majority of people who use 
these drugs are doing so responsibly and safely and that is why our 
approach does not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly 
prescribed medicines."

Multiple sclerosis sufferers, who have taken a cannabis-based 
medicine, and other people on prescription drugs, would be able to 
put up a "medical defence".
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