Eight-week Staffordshire drug-driver 'hunt down' begins
An eight-week pilot to 'hunt down' drivers who get behind the wheel after taking drugs is being launched by police in Staffordshire as new national legislation takes effect from today.
Drivers will now be prosecuted if they are caught exceeding new legal limits which have, for the first time, been laid down for eight illegal drugs and eight prescription drugs.
Staffordshire Police is one of the only forces in the country to be launching the pilot which will see officers specifically looking for drivers under the influence of drugs.
A team will be patrolling the county's roads, carrying out roadside tests using special DrugWipes to catch people who have used cannabis or cocaine.
If they test positive they will be arrested and taken back to a police station where further tests will be taken to see if they have used any other drugs.
Figures from the road safety charity Brake reveal around 200 deaths a year in the UK result from drug driving.
Inspector Mat Derrick, from the tactical policing team at Staffordshire Police, said: "Drug driving is a big problem in Staffordshire. We want to make roads safer. That is a priority for us.
"We'll be testing for cannabis and cocaine in the same way as we do for drink drivers.
"This opens up new powers for us. There is a process in place at the moment but it's a fairly bureaucratic one.
"It's a little bit hit and miss."
Those found to have used certain drugs and then get behind the wheel could face a 12-month driving ban or a six-month prison sentence, similar to the punishment for those who drink drive.
Insp Derrick continued: "We have no idea what the scale of the problem is. Young people generally think it's socially acceptable to take drugs and drive or they think there is no way they will be caught.
"That's a bit of an urban myth really."
Insp Derrick said the tactical team, based at the force's headquarters in Stafford, will be going out on a daily basis over the next eight weeks to hunt down drug drivers.
He added: "Not all police forces are doing this."
Road Safety Minister Robert Goodwill said: "This new law will save lives. We know driving under the influence of drugs is extremely dangerous; it devastates families and ruins lives.
"The Government's message is clear - if you take drugs and drive, you are endangering yourself and others and you risk losing your licence and a conviction."
