Drug driving test given the go ahead

04-01-2013, 16:09

Lets hope it works .I would hazard a guess that the number of people driving while under the influence of drugs is equally as much as those who drink and drive .

Quote:

A testing kit to detect drugs in drivers has been approved for police use across the UK, the Home Office says.
The kit will analyse a mouth swab for traces of cannabis. Testing capability for other drugs is being developed.
It will be used at police stations, and removes the need to have a doctor take a blood sample for drug testing.

Quote:

During 2011, at least 640 accidents were caused by drug-drivers using both illegal and medicinal substances

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20913805

**Hugh** · 04-01-2013, 16:30

Good news - this announcement may act as a deterrent.

04-01-2013, 16:41

To be honest i am surprised it has taken so long to tackle the problem

Sirius · 04-01-2013, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

To be honest i am surprised it has taken so long to tackle the problem

Indeed, considering how prevalent drugs are now this should have been a high priority. Why do i expect Toonlight to turn up shortly to explain how bad this is in the only way he can

04-01-2013, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

Indeed, considering how prevalent drugs are now this should have been a high priority. Why do i expect Toonlight to turn up shortly to explain how bad this is in the only way he can

give it time

---------- Post added at 18:14 ---------- Previous post was at 18:08 ----------

I suppose some of the problem is, what is the test going to detect?,at the moment it is only cannabis ,eventually they will develop tests for other drugs like heroin and other amphetamine based drugs ,so what about legitimate prescription drugs ?will it be able to distinguish between them and the illegal ones or will it end up with people being carted off to the police station for blood tests to determine what drugs have been taken?

Gary L · 04-01-2013, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

I would hazard a guess that the number of people driving while under the influence of drugs is equally as much as those who drink and drive .

I'd say it was much, much more.

And how much do you want to bet that because there's going to be that many. it will be turned into an on the spot fine offence.

It will all be to do with impairment of the driver who is drug driving. so for a safe bet and for maximum income. they will just charge you money if you want to drive with drugs in your system.

unless they get a really bad one that stands out like he's drunk. they'll have to arrest that one because they don't want to take his money and let him on his way.

the public won't like it.

thenry · 04-01-2013, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

To be honest i am surprised it has taken so long to tackle the problem

agreed.

04-01-2013, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

I'd say it was much, much more.

.

I think you may be right .Supposedly there are thousands of professionals(for example) using cocaine on a daily basis ,they all have get home in their expensive cars .

---------- Post added at 19:28 ---------- Previous post was at 19:25 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

That's the problem with the techno fix. It needs to detect ALL the types of drugs that a driver may be under the influence of. I think that the US has it right with roadside sobriety tests. That quickly determines if the driver is compos mentis or in need of further testing at the station.

wasn't there talk of doing that for suspected drug driving ?

Sirius · 04-01-2013, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

give it time

---------- Post added at 18:14 ---------- Previous post was at 18:08 ----------

I suppose some of the problem is, what is the test going to detect?,at the moment it is only cannabis ,eventually they will develop tests for other drugs like heroin and other amphetamine based drugs ,so what about legitimate prescription drugs ?will it be able to distinguish between them and the illegal ones or will it end up with people being carted off to the police station for blood tests to determine what drugs have been taken?

I will have to be careful then when i take my Tramadol

04-01-2013, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

I will have to be careful then when i take my Tramadol

Funny enough my wife takes them for her back and i KNOW

you can't drive when taking those

Sirius · 04-01-2013, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

Funny enough my wife takes them for her back and i KNOW

you can't drive when taking those

I only take them when i get home from work and then only when i really need them, so i should be ok..

Jimmy-J · 04-01-2013, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

I suppose some of the problem is, what is the test going to detect?,at the moment it is only cannabis ,eventually they will develop tests for other drugs like heroin and other amphetamine based drugs ,so what about legitimate prescription drugs ?will it be able to distinguish between them and the illegal ones or will it end up with people being carted off to the police station for blood tests to determine what drugs have been taken?

Depends on how they effect a person when they're in control of a vehicle. I think what most drivers are unaware of, is that the DVLA must be informed if you have a medical condition that could potentially put yourself and others at risk.

ADHD
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Will21st · 04-01-2013, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

I think you may be right .Supposedly there are thousands of professionals(for example) using cocaine on a daily basis ,they all have get home in their expensive cars .[COLOR="Silver"]

snip

I doubt those thousands of daily users all get in their cars and drive home. Most coke users probably sold their car for a couple of baggies a long time ago.

On a more serious note whilst this is good news the fact remains alcohol causes more accidents and Road deaths than all illegal drugs combined.

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/fa...-and-accidents

traffic accidents are still a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths among young men aged 16 to 24. In 2010, nearly 10,000 reported road casualties happened when a driver was over the legal alcohol limit representing 5% of all road casualties (2).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20913805

During 2011, at least 640 accidents were caused by drug-drivers using both illegal and medicinal substances.

The Department of Transport statistics - the most recent available - included 49 deaths.

Pierre · 04-01-2013, 21:07

I thought I read years ago that they were going to introduce roadside competency tests, you know, touch your nose, walk along a white line, stand on one leg etc......like they do in the states.

idiosyncratic · 05-01-2013, 00:06

Without more details about how the new test works it is difficult to imagine how useful it will be.

The correlation between alcohol in the breath/blood/urine & driving impairment is fairly linear because alcohol does not persist in the body for very long & the assumption that if it is detected above the legal limits, it is having an effect, is well established.

I don't condone anything that impairs driving competence, but I would like to know how the proposed test has been 'calibrated' for the effects of recent cannabis use & the situation where I understand cannabis 'by-products' are detectable for quite a long time after the effects have actually 'worn off'??