BMA URGES DRUG TESTING FOR DRIVERS AS CRASH TOLL RISES

Doctors' leaders called last night for drug testing kits similar to
breathalysers to check growing numbers of motorists who are driving under
the influence of illegal and prescribed drugs.

The British Medical Association said millions of drivers were taking the
wheel without realising how much their performance deteriorated after
taking drugs, ranging from cannabis to anti-depressants and cough mixtures.

Under the Road Traffic Act it was an offence to drive while unfit through
drink or drugs, but the law made no distinction between illegal and
prescribed drugs and did not set any legal limit for drugs.

The BMA urged ministers to give greater priority to scientific research
into effective drug testing devices that could be used to tell when it was
unsafe to drive.

According to a study by the Transport Research Laboratory the number of
people involved in fatal road accidents who tested positive for cannabis
increased fourfold between 1985-7 and 1996-9, from 3% to 12%.

Testing for drugs was more difficult than testing for alcohol, the BMA
said, and the government should accelerate research to solve these problems
as soon as possible and embark on a public awareness campaign.

Current lack of drug testing devices that could prove driving impairment
due to drugs made it difficult to enforce legislation, the BMA warned.