24 motorists arrested for drug-driving EVERY week
‘Puts other road users at risk’
ALMOST 25 motorists are being caught driving under the influence of drugs every week.
New laws came into force in Scotland on October 21, when police began using so-called ‘drugalysers’ for roadside testing.
By november 18, 96 drivers had tested positive for drug consumption after being stopped by police. The drug-driving limits and roadside testing were introduced more than four years after a similar crackdown south of the Border.
Last night, Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘These figures show just how urgently needed this legislation was.
‘Had the SNP not dragged its heels, many more drug-drivers could have been taken off the road before.
‘There’s absolutely no excuse for getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. Those who do should be punished heavily.’
Justice Secretary Humza yousaf and Police Scotland will today launch this year’s festive campaign to tackle drink- and drug-driving.
during the first four weeks of the new law coming into effect, 96 people had provided positive roadside tests for drug use – an average of 24 a week.
Six were women aged between 23 and 42, with the rest being 90 men aged between 17 and 50.
The Scottish Police Federation warned of a ‘gradual decline in road policing officers’ and said ‘almost anything that causes an increase in duties is going to have an impact’ in terms of enforcing the laws.
The law is enforced by police equipped with devices that measure the amount of a drug in a person’s system, much as a breathalyser does for alcohol.
Officers can use them to check for cannabis and cocaine. a blue line appears on the so-called ‘drugalyser’ after eight minutes if the person has taken them. drivers must be taken to a police station for a blood test for other drugs, including ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin.
a recent Police Scotland report said: ‘On average, English and Welsh forces saw a 150 per cent rise in blood samples submitted for analysis following implementation of the legislation.
‘Some forces saw increases as high as 500 per cent.’
The report said drug-driving is becoming ‘increasingly prevalent’. A National roads Policing intelligence analysis showed that of 3,202 drugs tests administered in England and Wales during a winter 2018 campaign, 58.4 per cent proved positive.
This is the first festive enforcement and awareness campaign to include the drug-drive laws.
Last night, Mr yousaf said: ‘driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is totally unacceptable and puts not only the driver, but passengers and other road users, at risk of serious injury or even death.
‘as well as such devastating consequences, drivers caught drink or drug-driving also face significant criminal penalties, which could result in them losing their licence or their liberty.
‘The new drug-driving law and Scotland’s low driver-alcohol limit are focused on making our roads safer for everyone.’
Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Police Scotland’s deputy head of road policing, said: ‘as we move into the festive party season, we are reminding motorists of the devastating consequences driving with alcohol or drugs in their system can have.
‘new roadside testing for drugs was introduced on October 21 and, disappointingly, we have seen nearly 100 people provide positive tests in four weeks.’
The campaign starts on december 1 and police say they ‘will have dedicated resources on patrol, targeting motorists who take the risk of taking drugs or drinking and driving’.
There were 3,092 drink-driving offences between april and September, compared with 2,935 for the same period last year.