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Drivers could be over limit on prescription pills: Thousands face prison and 12-month ban in zero-tolerance' crackdown
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-prison-12-month-ban-zero-tolerance-crackdown.
Prosecutions are to begin from next year using new ‘drugalysers’
They will measure at the roadside whether limits have been exceeded
Potentially lethal drug-drivers face a 12-month ban, six months’ jail and up to a £5,000 fine
Drivers found to be abusing prescription drugs such as morphine and diazepam, or Valium, also face prosecution.
Ministers stressed they are not out to ‘criminalise’ motorists legitimately taking legally prescribed medication, with the thresholds to be set at a level to avoid such drivers being unfairly prosecuted.
Road safety minister Stephen Hammond said that drug-driving is a menace which devastates families and ruins lives
But those who pop too many prescribed pills, or fail to heed doctors’ advice on the prescription not to drive, could also find themselves being prosecuted.
Drug-drivers are blamed for hundreds of road deaths each year, yet routinely escape prosecution.
Experts say the crackdown could save up to 200 lives a year, but motoring groups believe the true figure could be much higher. Details are being put out to consultation today, with legislation in place by next year.
The measures enable police to stop drivers and arrest them on the spot if they are found to exceed the limits.
In January the Home Office approved a device for testing for cannabis at police stations by taking a mouth swab. Testing capability for other drugs is also being developed.
A new offence – of driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with a specified controlled drug in the body – is being created within the Crime and Courts Bill, currently before Parliament. The Bill allows the Secretary of State for Transport to specify what the limit is for each controlled drug, including ‘zero’.
The latter would apply to eight controlled drugs: cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy), cocaine, ketamine (a strong sedative abused by clubbers), benzoylecgonine (a breakdown product of cocaine), methamphetamine, LSD, and 6-MAM (heroin and diamorphine).
Ministers will also set limits for eight controlled drugs ‘that have recognised and widespread medical uses.
They are: morphine, methadone, diazepam (first marketed as Valium) and oxazepam (prescribed for anxiety), flunitrazepam (or Rohypnol – prescribed for insomnia), clonazepam and lorazepam (for anxiety) and temazepam (for anxiety and insomnia).
Ministers remain undecided on amphetamine, which is abused as ‘speed’ but is also used legitimately on prescription such as in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication like Ritalin.
Road safety minister Stephen 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.’
He added: ‘We know that the vast majority of people who use prescription drugs are doing so responsibly that is why our approach does not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly prescribed medicines.’
some readers comments
Errr ...canabis users are super safe on the roads! Believe me!!!
- gaz , wales, 09/7/2013 01:50
There are many common prescription medicines and OTC remedies that can affect driving. It seems unfair to just go for a few higher profile ones and ignore the rest OTC and Ritalin. The latter is one dangerous drug. This would seem to be unfairly discriminating folk who need particular drugs legally. It's fine to say they won't be discriminated against, but we've all met over-zealous traffic officers. Surely, it's for physicians to set limits, not ministers. Our armies fight with drugs on board, so are they now going to test the army guys, too? Most people don't cause any harm, but will there be blitzes and they test everyone, because if the latter happens I can see a lot of elderly folk lined up to test the real levels of drugs in their system and wasting police time. I have a problem with zero tolerance for we could get those in pain and those with high anxiety (anxiety attacks, too) etc driving around which surely would be a bigger threat. Not sure how this can work.
- rommel , Kapiti Coast, 09/7/2013 01:52
Bl**dy ridiculous...prescription drugs????????????????????????/
- CAZ , SCOTLAND, United Kingdom, 09/7/2013 01:46
There's already a law in place s4 unfit through drink or drugs. That covers drug use, the prob is ( I speak as a serving PC) is that you need to need to able to evidence why you think drugs are in use. The E,cannabis, coke. Have signs but the prescription stuff ??. Who enforces the zero tolerance crackdown, because if the courts don't impose the sentences on the people that get nicked its not much of a zero tolerance. Sorry I'm too cynical, this pops up just before the election. ???
- Honest PC , London, United Kingdom, 09/7/2013 01:28
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-prison-12-month-ban-zero-tolerance-crackdown.
Prosecutions are to begin from next year using new ‘drugalysers’
They will measure at the roadside whether limits have been exceeded
Potentially lethal drug-drivers face a 12-month ban, six months’ jail and up to a £5,000 fine
Drivers found to be abusing prescription drugs such as morphine and diazepam, or Valium, also face prosecution.
Ministers stressed they are not out to ‘criminalise’ motorists legitimately taking legally prescribed medication, with the thresholds to be set at a level to avoid such drivers being unfairly prosecuted.
Road safety minister Stephen Hammond said that drug-driving is a menace which devastates families and ruins lives
But those who pop too many prescribed pills, or fail to heed doctors’ advice on the prescription not to drive, could also find themselves being prosecuted.
Drug-drivers are blamed for hundreds of road deaths each year, yet routinely escape prosecution.
Experts say the crackdown could save up to 200 lives a year, but motoring groups believe the true figure could be much higher. Details are being put out to consultation today, with legislation in place by next year.
The measures enable police to stop drivers and arrest them on the spot if they are found to exceed the limits.
In January the Home Office approved a device for testing for cannabis at police stations by taking a mouth swab. Testing capability for other drugs is also being developed.
A new offence – of driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with a specified controlled drug in the body – is being created within the Crime and Courts Bill, currently before Parliament. The Bill allows the Secretary of State for Transport to specify what the limit is for each controlled drug, including ‘zero’.
The latter would apply to eight controlled drugs: cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy), cocaine, ketamine (a strong sedative abused by clubbers), benzoylecgonine (a breakdown product of cocaine), methamphetamine, LSD, and 6-MAM (heroin and diamorphine).
Ministers will also set limits for eight controlled drugs ‘that have recognised and widespread medical uses.
They are: morphine, methadone, diazepam (first marketed as Valium) and oxazepam (prescribed for anxiety), flunitrazepam (or Rohypnol – prescribed for insomnia), clonazepam and lorazepam (for anxiety) and temazepam (for anxiety and insomnia).
Ministers remain undecided on amphetamine, which is abused as ‘speed’ but is also used legitimately on prescription such as in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication like Ritalin.
Road safety minister Stephen 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.’
He added: ‘We know that the vast majority of people who use prescription drugs are doing so responsibly that is why our approach does not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly prescribed medicines.’
some readers comments
Errr ...canabis users are super safe on the roads! Believe me!!!
- gaz , wales, 09/7/2013 01:50
There are many common prescription medicines and OTC remedies that can affect driving. It seems unfair to just go for a few higher profile ones and ignore the rest OTC and Ritalin. The latter is one dangerous drug. This would seem to be unfairly discriminating folk who need particular drugs legally. It's fine to say they won't be discriminated against, but we've all met over-zealous traffic officers. Surely, it's for physicians to set limits, not ministers. Our armies fight with drugs on board, so are they now going to test the army guys, too? Most people don't cause any harm, but will there be blitzes and they test everyone, because if the latter happens I can see a lot of elderly folk lined up to test the real levels of drugs in their system and wasting police time. I have a problem with zero tolerance for we could get those in pain and those with high anxiety (anxiety attacks, too) etc driving around which surely would be a bigger threat. Not sure how this can work.
- rommel , Kapiti Coast, 09/7/2013 01:52
Bl**dy ridiculous...prescription drugs????????????????????????/
- CAZ , SCOTLAND, United Kingdom, 09/7/2013 01:46
There's already a law in place s4 unfit through drink or drugs. That covers drug use, the prob is ( I speak as a serving PC) is that you need to need to able to evidence why you think drugs are in use. The E,cannabis, coke. Have signs but the prescription stuff ??. Who enforces the zero tolerance crackdown, because if the courts don't impose the sentences on the people that get nicked its not much of a zero tolerance. Sorry I'm too cynical, this pops up just before the election. ???
- Honest PC , London, United Kingdom, 09/7/2013 01:28
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