Roadside drug tests will be introduced across the UK and Wales from 2015. It is part of another effort to combat drug driving on UK roads. These tests will be introduced as a crackdown on drug-driving. The government officials say that drivers won’t know if they will be breathalysed given a drug test or both when the police stop those car drivers.
The new drugalyser has recently been given Home Office approval. In this test, drivers will be asked to give saliva samples to conduct cannabis and cocaine tests. Tests will be conducted in a mobile laboratory available at the spot, but there is no word on legal limits yet.
The previous tests were very time-consuming when officers arrested the suspects who were not driving safely and took them to the police station to undergo blood tests under strict medical supervision.
It was a very time-consuming process so to avoid this time wasting the drugalyser test will be conducted at the spot.
In the case of blood tests, many drivers were unable to give a blood sample for medical reasons or due to religious beliefs.
The new kits will be introduced in March this year. These tests have been approved by Home Office so they will be in force immediately. Mike Penning, Policing Minister said that the most motorists had the same view of drug-driving as of drink-driving. He further added, “The Government is determined to drive this menace from our roads. Those who take the wheel while under the influence of drugs put their own lives at risk, plus those of innocent motorists and their passengers.” This new testing system on the streets will close that loophole as well.
