Georgina Shaba

Number of drug drivers on Britain's roads doubles

BRITAIN’S drug driving scourge has been laid bare in shock new figures that show the number of convictions has doubled in just four years. The number of motorists hit by drug driving penalties is soaring each year and has risen from 10,479 in 2018 to 20,407 in 2021.

Posted on Aug 30, 2023 by Georgina Shaba

BRITAIN’S drug driving scourge has been laid bare in shock new figures that show the number of convictions has doubled in just four years.

The number of motorists hit by drug driving penalties is soaring each year and has risen from 10,479 in 2018 to 20,407 in 2021.

It comes as police forces ramp up their efforts to crack down on drivers who take to the road while under the influence of substances ranging from cannabis and cocaine to prescription medications.

Duncan McClure Fisher, founder and CEO of leading motoring association MotorEasy who revealed the figures, said: “There is never an excuse to get behind the wheel while impaired, whether that’s through drugs or alcohol.

“Britain’s drug driving problem is growing each year and urgent intervention is needed to prevent tragedies on our roads.

“Since it became a specific offence in 2015, drug driving convictions continue to increase, whether that’s because more people are doing it or police forces are becoming better at catching those who do it.

“We all have a responsibility to other motorists on the road to make sure we are fit to drive and to ensure our roads are as safe as possible.”

Britain first introduced drug driving laws in March 2015 in a bid to make it easier to arrest and convict motorists under the influence of these substances.

MotorEasy obtained figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency that show how the number of people driving or attempting to drive while above the legal drug limit have increased every year for the past four years.

It rises from 10,479 in 2018 to 12,219 in 2019, then to 14,377 the following year and finally to 20,407 in 2021.

Meanwhile, the number of drivers who had their licences endorsed for causing death with careless driving while above the limit has gone from 13 in 2018, to 11, six and nine the following three years.

These endorsements carry between three and 11 penalty points and remain on the driver’s record for 11 years.

Among the drug drivers caught in that period were a 78-year-old woman, plus boys aged 14 and 15.

The North West of England has been the drug driving capital of Britain with 13,166 offenders in the past five years, while the South East is next with 9,929.

They are followed by the East of England with 8,298 and Greater London with 7,171.

South West Scotland has the lowest number of offenders with just 30, followed by Central Scotland on 41.

For more information, visit https://www.motoreasy.com/