A Conservative MP advocates for roadside saliva tests to enhance drug-driving charge rates in the UK
Fylde: A Conservative MP is pushing for roadside saliva testing across the UK. Andrew Snowden believes this could help get more drug-drivers off the roads faster.
In a recent Commons session, he pointed out that using new saliva-testing tech could really ramp up the number of drug-driving charges.
Snowden, who used to be the police and crime commissioner for Lancashire, emphasized that tackling drink and drug-driving is crucial for road safety.
Statistics from the Department for Transport show a worrying trend. The number of fatalities linked to drug-impaired driving jumped from 55 in 2014 to a staggering 134 in 2023.
He mentioned that while police are getting better at arresting drug-drivers, the time it takes to charge them is still lagging behind drink-driving cases.
Snowden highlighted D-Tech International, a local company that supplies drug swipe kits to police forces. They want to use technology similar to what’s used in other European countries to speed up the process.
He asked the transport minister if she would meet with him and D-Tech to discuss how this tech could help get drug-drivers banned more quickly.
Transport minister Lilian Greenwood acknowledged the issue, noting that drug impairment was a factor in 13% of last year’s road fatalities.
She shared her experience riding along with police officers to see firsthand the challenges they face in prosecuting these cases.
Greenwood agreed to meet with Snowden to explore the matter further, which is a positive step.
Official figures reveal that over 33,000 British drivers were convicted of drug-driving multiple times in the past 11 years, with some facing prosecution ten times or more.
Interestingly, those convicted of drink-driving can sometimes reduce their bans by completing rehabilitation courses aimed at changing their behavior.
