Detecting drug drivers Duncan Price Branch Head Department for Transport.

Detecting drug drivers

Duncan PriceBranch HeadDepartment for Transport

RSGB Conference 2011

Detecting Drug Drivers

By: Duncan Price

Road User Licensing, Insurance and SafetyDepartment for Transport

North Review of Drink and Drug Driving Law (June 2010) - Drugs

• Improving the Evidence

• Improving Procedure

• The ‘Road Map’1. improve the current process2. preliminary drug screening tests3. a specific offence4. roadside screening5. evidential drug testing

The Evidence

Key GB Statistics

Impairment by drugs (illicit or medicinal) was reported contributory factor in 2010 in:

• 1,094 casualties, down by 16% from 2009

• 51 drivers and pedestrians killed, down by 20 % from 2009

•So 1 in 200 of injuries, 1 in 20 deaths?

•TRL Work 1996-2000 indicated rates in fatalities of 18% (illicit drugs) & 24% (all)

Evidence (European – DRUID)

DRUID (DRiving Under the Influence of Drugs, alcohol & medicines)

• Five Year Cross-European research programme

Alcohol vs Other Drugs

• The prevalence of alcohol in traffic is higher (3.48%) than for illicit drugs (1.90%) or medicinal drugs (1.36%)

• Consumption of alcohol (> 0.5 ‰) alone or in combination with other drugs causes the highest accident risk compared to other psychoactive substances.

Government Response to North (Drugs)

Implementation Priority (March 2011)

Current Progress

Better information about prevalence of drink and drug driving and its implications in casualty accidents

Tender under way for data collection from coroners and procurators

Delegate to custody nurses the assessment police doctors make of suspected drug drivers

Seeking legislative opportunity to change Road Traffic Act 1988

Approve preliminary drug testing equipment initially for use in police stations – and then at the roadside

Police station devices in type approval

‘Road Map’ 1: Improve the Current Process

• Legislative Changes (Drugs and Drink)– Custody Nurse Assessment of Drug Driving

Suspects– Hospital Testing Procedures (Drink and Drugs)– Allow New Testing Technology

• Portable evidential breath testing for drink• Possibly Multiple samples for drugs

– Withdrawal of Statutory Option (Drink)

‘Road Map’ 2: Preliminary Drug Screening Tests

‘Road Map’ 3: A Specific Offence

• To proceed there must be research / consensus on which common controlled drugs are impairing at which levels

Cannabis• The second prevalent substance in traffic (after alcohol)• Across several experimental studies THC-blood concentration of• 2ng/ml causes the same performance impairments as BAC 0.5‰ • With 3-5ng/ml THC in blood the risk for being responsible for an

accident is equal to 0.1-0.5‰ BACCocaine• On-road driving tests, simulator studies and tests of driving related

skills showed no impairing effect at low dosage.• Impairment is caused by concomitant alcohol consumption or sleep

deprivation (not by stimulants alone).

‘Road Map’ 3: A Specific Offence

• European research about impairing levels of drugs (equivalent to drink drive impairment)

• Wide ranges of levels and some caution (eg Netherlands)

• Some plans for a specific offence (eg Norway)• Including schedules of drugs and levels

‘Road Map’: 4 and 5

• 4: Roadside screening devices– establish value without specific offence– builds momentum towards the specific offence

• 5: Evidential testing– roadside screening /evidential at police station

• “Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien ” Voltaire (1772)

Publicity

• Developing future marketing plans

Local Action

• Intelligence-led enforcement

• Wider criminality and public health issues

Road Safety Framework: Education and training

Measure Description Action (e.g. legislation, type approval)

Expected Start Date

Increased educational offerings to offenders

We will increase the educational courses that can be offered in the place of fixed penalty notices to teach safer driving behaviour.

We will develop courses by working with the police and the Driving Standards Agency

Ongoing

Increased educational offerings to offenders

We will develop courses that courts can offer in the place of losing a licence

We will develop a course 2013

Increased educational offerings to offenders

This will require offenders to take a course and assessment to regain a licence after a serious disqualification (expected to be 12 months or more)

We will develop a suitable course and an assessment

2013

A new post test qualification

This will replace Pass Plus and will provide candidates with an improved way to develop their driving skills after passing their driving test.

We will work with the Driving Standards Agency and the insurance industry to develop a course that improves the skills of inexperienced drivers.

2014

Road Safety Framework: Planned Legal Changes

Measure Description Action (e.g. legislation, type approval)

Expected Start Date

Introduce a fixed penalty offence for careless driving

This will allow the police to tackle offences that are currently unenforced more efficiently. Parallel measure to increase penalty fines from £60 to £80-£100

Statutory instrument. Impact assessment and internal Government clearance in progress.

2012

Withdrawal of statutory option for drink drivers

This will remove the right of drivers who fail an evidential breath test by 40% or less to request a blood or urine test.

Legislation to amend the Road Traffic Act.

2013

New drug offence This would create an offence of driving with a specified drug in the body. More work needed before decision whether to proceed.

This would require new primary legislation

2015 – if it proceeds

New dangerous driving offence (not in road safety framework)

This will create an offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, with higher maximum penalties

Government (MoJ-led) amendment to the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

2012

Speed Limits

Plans to consult about:• Motorway speed limits• Changing the 40 mph rural road limit for lorries • Revision of the speed limit circular (to increase

local flexibility, focus on urban areas)• Cost/benefit assessment tool for local speed

limits for use by local authorities• Exemptions from speed limits for emergency

services

Any Questions?

Thank you