‘Drug-driving surpasses drink-driving’

♦ Police are stopping more drug-drivers than drinkdrivers, figures are beginning to show.

Essex Police say that in November, 125 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, compared with 114 motorists caught for drink-driving, the first time the county has seen drug-drive offences surpass drink-driving.

Insp Rob Brettell said: “Part of that is down to the fact we have more equipment to test drivers but it also shows the extent to which people think it’s OK to drive under the influence of drugs.”

Adam Pipe, of Essex Police, said the figures were staggering. “We find that 98 per cent of drug-drivers are male and between 17 and 25.”