Harsh
10-02-12, 14:49 PM
We love edgy stories!!!
So if no-one else will print it, we will....
A report by the British Medical Journal out today (Friday 10 February) shows drivers who smoke cannabis within three hours of getting behind the wheel double the risk of a serious crash.
In the UK, 18% of people killed in road crashes have traces of illegal drugs in their blood, with cannabis the most common [1]. In a recent survey by Brake and Direct Line one in nine young drivers (11%) admitted driving on illegal drugs [2]. Currently, there is no law against driving with illegal drugs in your body, meaning police have to prove impairment. This makes it difficult for the police to test and prosecute drivers who risk lives by drug driving and means low conviction rates compared to drink driving [3].
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning has confirmed the government intends to introduce a new drug-driving offence. He recently announced a panel of experts will advise on the technicalities of introducing the new offence, including whether it is possible to set limits equivalent to the drink drive limit. Read more. (http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/stories/dft-news-20120104/) The government is also in the process of introducing drug screening devices into police stations.
Julie Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, said: “Tackling drug driving should be a top priority. This report highlights the danger posed by drivers who have smoked cannabis and adds weight to Brake’s calls for widespread testing and prosecution of drivers who selfishly risk lives by taking illegal drugs and driving. Brake supports bereaved and seriously injured victims of road crashes and knows too well the horrifying devastation caused by drug drivers. We are pleased the government has expressed commitment to tackling drug driving; we now need urgent action to bring in this desperately needed change in the law – taking a tough, zero tolerance stance – and roadside screening devices to create a strong deterrent against this heinous and highly dangerous behaviour.”
Brake’s calls for government action
Brake is urging the government to move swiftly to create a law with a zero tolerance approach, making it illegal to drive on any amount of illegal drugs. Evidence shows a range of illegal drugs affect the skills, coordination and judgment required for driving, [4] so it is fair to assume that drivers with these drugs in their system are impaired.
Brake is also urging the government to push through type approval for roadside drug screening devices, similar to alcohol breathalysers, enabling widespread enforcement checks and a significant deterrent.
For the past decade, successive governments have promised to tackle the scourge of drug driving but failed to make inroads. Drug driving laws and roadside testing equipment work in other countries including Germany, Australia and Finland so there is no reason to delay in the UK.
Anyone who has been bereaved or seriously injured in a crash can call the Brake helpline for support on 0845 603 8570.
End notes:
[1] The incidence of drugs and alcohol in road accident fatalities, Transport Research Laboratory
[2] Direct Line Report on Safe Driving 2009 – 2011 PART SIX Young drivers, Brake and Direct Line, 2011
[3] Criminal statistics annual report 2009 Sup V6, by the Ministry for Justice, 2011
[4] See http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/drugdrive/impairdriving.shtml
Who are Brake?
Brake Brake (http://www.brake.org.uk/) is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 65 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns (http://www.brake.org.uk/take-action/influence-government.htm), community education (http://www.brake.org.uk/get-involved.htm) programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/) (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum (http://www.fleetsafetyforum.org/), providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division (http://www.brake.org.uk/help-for-victims.htm) cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.
Road crashes are not accidents; the use of the term ‘accident’ undermines work to reduce road risk and causes insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by selfish drivers who take risks on roads.
Now this ought to start a debate!! :D
So if no-one else will print it, we will....
A report by the British Medical Journal out today (Friday 10 February) shows drivers who smoke cannabis within three hours of getting behind the wheel double the risk of a serious crash.
In the UK, 18% of people killed in road crashes have traces of illegal drugs in their blood, with cannabis the most common [1]. In a recent survey by Brake and Direct Line one in nine young drivers (11%) admitted driving on illegal drugs [2]. Currently, there is no law against driving with illegal drugs in your body, meaning police have to prove impairment. This makes it difficult for the police to test and prosecute drivers who risk lives by drug driving and means low conviction rates compared to drink driving [3].
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning has confirmed the government intends to introduce a new drug-driving offence. He recently announced a panel of experts will advise on the technicalities of introducing the new offence, including whether it is possible to set limits equivalent to the drink drive limit. Read more. (http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/stories/dft-news-20120104/) The government is also in the process of introducing drug screening devices into police stations.
Julie Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, said: “Tackling drug driving should be a top priority. This report highlights the danger posed by drivers who have smoked cannabis and adds weight to Brake’s calls for widespread testing and prosecution of drivers who selfishly risk lives by taking illegal drugs and driving. Brake supports bereaved and seriously injured victims of road crashes and knows too well the horrifying devastation caused by drug drivers. We are pleased the government has expressed commitment to tackling drug driving; we now need urgent action to bring in this desperately needed change in the law – taking a tough, zero tolerance stance – and roadside screening devices to create a strong deterrent against this heinous and highly dangerous behaviour.”
Brake’s calls for government action
Brake is urging the government to move swiftly to create a law with a zero tolerance approach, making it illegal to drive on any amount of illegal drugs. Evidence shows a range of illegal drugs affect the skills, coordination and judgment required for driving, [4] so it is fair to assume that drivers with these drugs in their system are impaired.
Brake is also urging the government to push through type approval for roadside drug screening devices, similar to alcohol breathalysers, enabling widespread enforcement checks and a significant deterrent.
For the past decade, successive governments have promised to tackle the scourge of drug driving but failed to make inroads. Drug driving laws and roadside testing equipment work in other countries including Germany, Australia and Finland so there is no reason to delay in the UK.
Anyone who has been bereaved or seriously injured in a crash can call the Brake helpline for support on 0845 603 8570.
End notes:
[1] The incidence of drugs and alcohol in road accident fatalities, Transport Research Laboratory
[2] Direct Line Report on Safe Driving 2009 – 2011 PART SIX Young drivers, Brake and Direct Line, 2011
[3] Criminal statistics annual report 2009 Sup V6, by the Ministry for Justice, 2011
[4] See http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/drugdrive/impairdriving.shtml
Who are Brake?
Brake Brake (http://www.brake.org.uk/) is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 65 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns (http://www.brake.org.uk/take-action/influence-government.htm), community education (http://www.brake.org.uk/get-involved.htm) programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/) (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum (http://www.fleetsafetyforum.org/), providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division (http://www.brake.org.uk/help-for-victims.htm) cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.
Road crashes are not accidents; the use of the term ‘accident’ undermines work to reduce road risk and causes insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by selfish drivers who take risks on roads.
Now this ought to start a debate!! :D