New Campaign To Crack Down On Drug Driving

A national TV advertising campaign to tackle drug driving has been launched by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis today after new research showed that one in 10 young male drivers admit to driving after taking illegal drugs.

The new £2.3m campaign highlights that the police can and will detect drug drivers.

Anyone convicted will face the same tough penalties as a drink driver.

One in five drivers killed in road accidents may have an impairing drug in their system.

The police can spot the signs that someone is driving under the influence of drugs and - as the new campaign highlights - once a driver has been stopped their eyes will give them away because of the obvious and involuntary effects drugs have on the body. Anyone convicted of driving while unfit through drugs will get a minimum 12 months driving ban, a criminal record and a large fine.

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: "Government campaigns over the past 40 years have succeeded in making drink driving socially unacceptable and cutting the number of people killed in drink drive accidents by nearly three quarters.

"But some drivers who would never get behind the wheel after drinking still believe they can drive after taking drugs. We are determined to get the message through to this reckless minority that their behaviour is putting lives in danger."

Lord Adonis said the penalties for drug driving are the same as for drink driving because drug driving is just as dangerous.

He continued: "Drivers should be in no doubt that if you get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs then the police can spot you, they can test you and you will face punishment."

Cathy Keeler, deputy chief executive of Brake, welcomed the campaign and called for enforcement to "back it up".

She said: "The government has been dragging its heels on approving a roadside testing device even though police in countries like Germany are already using saliva wipes to catch lots of drug drivers.

"There are already some devices out there that can identify some of the most common drugs people take and there's really no reason for the government to wait for some perfect device to detect all of them."

In addition to the television advert, which will be aired for the first time tonight before Coronation Street, the campaign also includes print, poster and on-line advertising as well as music festival and radio sponsorship.

(GK/KMcA)