Car Insurance Site Reveals Potential New Drug Driving Laws

January 17, 2012, Press Dispensary. Leading car insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk has learned of horrifying statistics from road safety charity Brake, showing that more than 10% of young drivers have driven under the influence of drugs. This has lead to calls from the charity for stronger laws against drug driving to be implemented.

These findings coincide with news that drug driving laws could be strengthened dependent upon the results of research findings from The Department for Transport. A panel of experts will provide a technical view of the effects of individual drugs, legal and illegal, and report on whether or not roadside drug testing is plausible.

As the law currently stands, evidence that someone is unfit to drive under the influence of drugs relies upon roadside co-ordination tests. These are carried out by the police and involve things like asking the participant to touch their nose with their eyes shut. Failing these roadside tests can lead to a police station blood test.

This is different from the drink driving rules which state that once a driver has had a specific volume to drink they can be prosecuted whether they are impaired or not. Brake is arguing that we require similar laws for drug driving in the UK as we do for drink driving, which will at the very least make prosecution easier.

Overseas in Australia there are devices in use that can test for commonly used drugs in saliva at the roadside within five minutes. Many MPs say that the UK police should be able to use similar devices to test at the roadside as substances could be out of the driver’s system by the time they get to the police station.
A spokesperson for car insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk commented, “Drug driving is an incredibly dangerous thing to do and anything that puts people off considering driving a vehicle under the influence of narcotics can only be a good thing. Whether or not the law will allow an acceptable level of an illegal drug or a zero tolerance approach to drugs in the system remains to be seen, but roadside testing is potentially a good solution.

Similar to drink driving offences, drug driving offences are a criminal offence rather than a traffic offence. As such, being found driving under the influence of drugs may have a detrimental effect on finding cheap car insurance. You will also have to declare any drug driving offence for the next five years on your car insurance quote form. Our advice would be to avoid it at all costs and if in doubt about any prescribed drugs, check with your doctor prior to driving a vehicle.’

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Notes for editors

About Tiger.co.uk:
Tiger.co.uk is a trading name of Call Connection Ltd. Tiger.co.uk is a UK based, independent car insurance comparison site, offering insurance quotes from over 140 motor insurance brands. Call Connection Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (number 308374).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Jo Buck, Tiger.co.uk
Tel: 01473 418513
Email:
Site: www.tiger.co.uk