DOCTORS AIM TO RAISE AWARENESS OVER THE DANGERS OF DRUG-DRIVING

Scottish doctors will warn today that legal as well as illegal drugs can
have the same deadly effect on drivers as alcohol.

The British Medical Association in Scotland is to call on the Scottish
Parliament to encourage debate and encourage more research to establish
effective testing devices and increase public awareness of the dangers of
drug-driving.

To help with the debate the BMA launched a new web resource -
www.bma.org.uk - outlining the current legal position and associated issues.

Between the 1980s and 1990s the number of people involved in fatal road
accidents who tested positive for cannabis has increased fourfold (3% -
12%) with detection of illegal drugs overall increasing from 3% to 18%.

The BMA fears this number will rise given the increasing use of drugs. Drug
Misuse Statistics 2001 reported that 36% of 16 to 24 year-olds in Scotland
said they had taken drugs.

In a separate survey of club--goers, 69% had taken cannabis and 85% of
these had at some time driven after using illegal drugs.

Developing an effective de-vice to assess the effects of drugs on driving
ability is extremely complex. Levels of drugs in the body, degrees of
impairment and how long a drug remains in the body all need to be evauated,
said the BMA.

Alcohol often exaggerates the effects of other drugs so any testing device
would also need to measure the potential effect of a drug when consumed
with alcohol, or drugs consumed in combination.

Cannabis is the most frequently detected illicit drug in accident
fatalities and is known to impair co-ordination, visual perception,
tracking and vigilance. Yet findings relating the effects of cannabinoids
on driving skills and road safety are not conclusive.

Dr Bill O'Neill, Scottish secretary of the BMA said: 'Whatever action the
Government takes on drug driving it is essential that it is accompanied by
a public awareness campaign.

'People generally accept that you shouldn't drink and drive but probably
have no idea about the effects of drugs and their driving ability.

"We're not just talking about illegal drugs but prescribed ones too,
Millions of people regularly take drugs such as antidepressants
painkillers, antihistamines and cough mixtures, all of which can have a
sedative effect.

'However, a balance needs to be struck between the symptoms of an illness
and the risk of the effects of taking medication. For example, the sedative
risk of antihistamines needs to be balanced against the risks of driving
with watering eyes and sneezing. When in doubt, advice should be sought."

Driving while unfit under the influence of drugs is an offence and a driver
faces the same penalties as those who drive under the influence of alcohol.
However, the law does not state any legal limit for drugs as it does for
alcohol.

The BMA said it was difficult to enforce legislation, as there were no
drug-testing devices that could effectively prove driving impairment due to
drugs.

Dr John Rankin, member of the BMA's Scottish GP committee and police
surgeon in Forth Valley said: "Roadside testing is being piloted in this
area where the driver has to complete a number of simple tests to ascertain
if they are under the influence of drugs.

"These tests are not conclusive and as a police surgeon I can be called in
to take samples if a roadside tests raises suspicions that drugs may have
been taken.'