Drug-drive ban could be brought in this year

A NEW ban on drug-driving could be introduced in Scotland later this year, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

Legal driving limits for drugs were introduced in England and Wales two years ago, including new ‘drugalyser’ tests.

Currently, prosecutors in Scotland have to prove a person’s driving was ‘impaired’ by drugs.

Now Miss Sturgeon has confirmed she will analyse official reports due to be published within months on the success of the scheme in England and Wales before deciding whether to do the same in Scotland.

She was accused yesterday of allowing Scotland to fall ‘behind the curve’ on the issue.

Figures published earlier this week showed that, between 2012

‘Why are Scots behind curve?’

and 2015, one in five road accidents tested positive for alcohol – and the same number tested positive for cannabis.

Asked by the SNP’s Stuart McMillan at First Minister’s Questions if she will consider introducing the same drug-drive limits as in England, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘Yes. We will study the available evidence showing the impact that drugdriving limits have had since they were introduced with a view to considering whether legislation should be introduced.’

However, Douglas Ross, Scottish Tory justice spokesman said there has been a fourfold increase in the number of motorists charged with drug-driving since the limits were introduced in 2015 and that conviction rates have risen from 52 to 95 per cent. He said: ‘Why is Scotland behind the curve on this important issue?’

Miss Sturgeon said: ‘That is some of the evidence that we will want to look at and make sure that we respond to.’