DRUG-DRIVING: POLICE TO LAUNCH CRACKDOWN

Greater Manchester Police are to launch a major crackdown on the menace of
driving under the influence of drugs.

Roadside tests are to be introduced this summer, aimed at cutting the
number of people suspected of taking drugs. The tests including walking in
a straight line, balancing on one leg with eyes shut, and estimating when
30 seconds have passed.

The move comes after a series of piloted schemes in which a four-point
checklist was used by traffic police to test whether motorists were under
the influence of drugs.

GMP will introduce the scheme later this year. Insp Denise McGowan, of GMP
policy unit, said that traffic officers were already trained in spotting
the tell-tale signs of drug-taking.

She added: "If an oficer stops a person because of erratic driving and the
breath test proves to be negative, they will carry out roadside drug tests
and have the power of arrest.

Policies

"The introduction of the four-point checklist will be helpful for traffic
police, who can use all four tests to check for drugs, before taking the
suspect to the station for a blood test.

"We welcome any policies which enable police to do their job, and make the
roads safer."

The four-point standard test, which forms the Field Impairment Tests, is
made up of:

1. Walk in a straight line along the road for a specified number of
paces, looking at your feet and counting out loud.

2. Stand on lone leg, close your eyes, tilt your head right back, touch
your nose three times with the index finger of one hand and then the other.

3. Stare straight ahead while the police officer compares the size of
your pupils with those in a chart.

4. Close your eyes and estimate when 30 seconds have passed after the
police officer says go.

Failing one or more test will not lead to a conviction, but it is likely to
mean officers will demand blood or urine samples at a police station.
Driving under the influence of drugs carries the same penalties as
drink-driving - a ban, and a fine of up to ?5,000 or up to six months in jail.

However, the search continues for a single, accurate, roadside test to
detect the presence of drugs.

Swabs which collect sweat from a suspected drug-user, and change colour if
drugs are present, have been tried but a system that is both cheap and
practical is yet to be found.