One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside drug tests as number of fatalities rises

One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside drug tests as number of fatalities rises

The number of deceased drivers with ‘impairment drugs’ present has increased by over 70% from 2014 to 2022, leading to concerns from road safety organisation that drug users continue to get behind the wheel despite the dangers

One in two motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving are failing roadside drug tests, leading to concerns that not enough is being done to tackle the issue.

A Freedom of Information request was submitted to all 45 police forces in the UK, with 31 forces providing data.

According to the data obtained by IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s leading road safety charity, more than half (51%) of drivers tested positive during roadside testing in 2023, while in 2024, 49% of drivers tested positive in the first 7 months of the year.

This is based on failure rate data provided by 17 of the 31 police forces that responded to the FOI request.

Meanwhile Department for Transport (DfT) figures* show that the number of deceased drivers with ‘impairment drugs’ present has increased by over 70% from 2014 to 2022.

The prime times of the year for catching offenders is during the party season: summer festivals and at Christmas. This coincides with Operation Limit, a national policing operation that takes place every year during various festivities to reduce drink and drug driving.

Police Scotland recorded the most failed tests in December 2023 and January 2024 with a total of 526 offenders, followed by Greater Manchester Police with 397 and Surrey Police with 368.

While police do not need a reason to stop a vehicle, they must have a reasonable suspicion that the motorist is under the influence of drugs before asking them to submit to a drug test.

A roadside swab test, which identifies whether motorists have taken cannabis or cocaine on the spot, was introduced in 2015, however some forces only started recording data in 2023. This means that the actual number of drivers with drugs detected is likely to be much higher.

Driving after taking illegal drugs is against the law, and driving after taking legal drugs is also breaking the law if it impairs driving.

‘Impairment drugs’ fall into three categories: psychoactive medications such as benzodiazepines; psychoactive drugs that could be prescribed, abused or used in emergency medical treatment such as morphine, alfentanil, fentanyl, ketamine; and drugs that are prone to abuse, such as cocaine and LSD, which have no medical use according to The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

A conviction for drug driving can lead to a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison, and a criminal record. The conviction stays on a driving licence for 11 years.

Convicted motorists are also likely to see their insurance costs increase significantly, and may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA.

IAM RoadSmart Policy Manager William Porter said:“The fact that one in two motorists are failing roadside drugs tests shows that the message about the dangers of drug-driving is not getting through. Separate research by IAM RoadSmart indicates that one in seven (16%) drivers aged 17-34 admitted to getting behind the wheel after taking class A drugs, indicating how vital it is to tackle this growing epidemic."

“We urgently need a new approach to combat drug-driving which focuses on both greater enforcement and establishing rehabilitation courses to reduce reoffending. The evidence shows that those taking equivalent drink-drive courses are almost three times less likely to reoffend than those who don’t.Ministers must consider expanding similar courses to those with drug-driving convictions.”

Ends

Notes to editors

For interviews, contact the IAM RoadSmart press office on press.office@iam.org.uk / 020 8996 9777

Data and references

* Department for Transport: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/developing-drug-driving-statistics/developing-drug-driving-statistics-initial-feasibility-study

Click here to read the IAM RoadSmart FOI Data

About IAM RoadSmart

IAM RoadSmart is the UK’s largest road safety charity providing advanced driving and motorcyclist training. It has a vision of a society where all road users can safely and sustainably use the public highways together. IAM RoadSmart was formed in March 1956 and has around 70,000 members and 5,000 volunteers that supports its campaigns on road safety. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses.

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