PROTECT THE INNOCENT

Sir - Could David Blunkett please tell us what tasks require so little skill
and concentration that someone under the influence of drugs, even so-called
soft drugs such as cannabis, can carry them out safety?

Having been involved in commercial aviation safety most of my adult life,
our constant nightmare is inadvertently allowing someone whose judgment is
impaired by drink or drugs to fly, control or carry out safety critical
maintenance on an aircraft.

Fortunately, the use of alcohol is not difficult to detect and an eight-hour
recovery time is standard throughout the industry. The tell-tale signs of
drug use, however, are not so easy to identify, and the limits and recovery
times have never been clearly specified.

Mr Blunkett is right to say that certain drugs may not kill the user, but he
must realise they could lead to misjudgments that could certainly harm the
innocent.

Brian Christley,

Abergele, Conwy