Skip advert
Advertisement

Roadside drug-tests rolled out in England and Wales

Roadside 'drugalyser' tests introduced in 2015 to combat drug driving on UK roads

Drug driving shake up

Roadside drugs tests will be rolled out across England and Wales in 2015 as part of a crackdown on drug-driving.

The Government says drivers won’t know if they’ll be breathalysed, given a drugs test or both when police stop them.

Groundbreaking new “drugalysers”, recently given Home Office approval, will take saliva samples and analyse them immediately for cannabis and cocaine. Legal highs aren’t detectable yet, though. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

• UK driving licences to display Union Flag

At present, officers have to arrest suspects and take them to a police station to undergo time-consuming blood tests conducted under medical supervision. To avoid detection, many would argue they were unable to give a blood sample for medical reasons or due to religious beliefs – wasting time and allowing the drugs to leave their system. With the drugalysers on the streets, that loophole has been closed. 

The kits will support the new drug offence, coming into force in March, but they’ll be in use almost immediately. 

The announcement follows on from our ‘No Drink, No Doubt’ campaign that calls on drivers not to drink at all if theyplan on getting behind the wheel. 

• Breathalyser test finds DIY kit results worryingly erratic

Policing minister Mike Penning said most motorists had the same view of drug-driving as of drink-driving, adding: “The Government is determined to drive this menace from our roads. 

“Those who take the wheel while under the influence of drugs put their own lives at risk, plus those of innocent motorists and their passengers.”

Do you think roadside drugs tests are a good idea? Let us know your views in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024