A&E crisis over record number of drug-drivers

AN ‘ epidemic’ of drugdriving is piling pressure on A&E departments and the courts with offences hitting a record high, figures suggest.

Road safety charities warn that the dangerous behaviour is putting the drivers, their passengers and other members of the public at serious risk of harm.

They are calling on ministers to clamp down on offenders, who may drive erratically or see their reaction times slowed as a result of taking drugs.

Almost 2,500 people were injured in accidents linked to drug-driving in 2021, which is up more than 260 per cent since 2012, according to the Department for Transport.

Meanwhile, the number of convictions has increased year on year to 12,500 in 2019, Criminal Justice System statistics show. Forty-four per cent of these crimes were committed by repeat offenders, with many cases occurring within one year.

IAM RoadSmart, the road safety charity which analysed the figures, described the scale of the problem as an ‘epidemic’.

And it fears there is no sign of things improving after its latest survey of 2,028 motorists found that one in ten has driven under the influence of illegal drugs or been a passenger in a vehicle driven by a drugged-up driver.

Furthermore, 6 per cent said they would be comfortable driving while under the influence of illegal drugs and 14 per cent would not stop a family member or friend who was planning to drive while under the influence of drugs.

It comes amid reports that in the push for prosecutions some police officers are resorting to taking drugdriving suspects to hard-pressed A&E departments to take blood samples.

IAM RoadSmart said ‘inefficient testing protocols’ mean blood samples have to be taken by a healthcare practitioner despite the NHS coming under record pressure.

Its most recent annual Safety Culture Report showed that motorists consider drink and drug-drivers as one of the biggest risks to their personal safety.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: ‘With cases surging and attitudes as they are, Britain’s drug- drive picture is a bleak one.

‘IAM RoadSmart has already proposed a smart package of solutions to help address this issue, including developing a dedicated drug-drive course, prescription reform and for the Government to finally release the outcome of its own drug-driving consultation.

‘If these are actioned, we might finally see progress made on this critical road safety issue before more lives are tragically lost.’

In recent years the introduction of strict legal limits, new penalties and the roadside swab test have all led to more drivers being caught.

A DfT spokesman said: ‘ We are determined to tackle this behaviour. ‘Along with our highly respected and effective “THINK!” campaigns, we have tough penalties and rigorous enforcement in place.’

‘Act before more lives are lost’