Truckers should be worried about changes to drug driving laws that are coming down the tracks, according to leading road transport solicitors, DrivingDefences.com

Q. Should drivers be worried about changes to drug driving laws?

A. Absolutely. We cannot stress enough how massive the changes coming into force are.

The new drug driving laws have been coming for some time but finally look set to become law on 2^nd March 2015.

The first major change that will have an effect on drivers is that some prescription medications are to be added to the list of substances which can see you prosecuted. Therefore, medications prescribed by your doctor, if found in your system upon testing could see you prosecuted for drug driving and given a lengthy driving ban or possibly worse, for higher amounts. The list below shows the prescribed medications which have been added and as you can see some of these are medications which people are regularly prescribed and are often allowed to drive whilst using.

• diazepam
• temazepam
• morphine
• methadone
• clonazepam
• flunitrazepam
• lorazepam
• oxazepam

The limits, generally speaking, are higher than most doctors would be prescribing but if higher amounts are prescribed you would be at risk, especially if impaired, and also if you accidently over medicate you would also be in trouble.

Another change will be that instead of relying on old methods of detecting drug usage, such as roadside impairments tests (touching your nose and walking in a straight line), new sophisticated roadside testing equipment will receive type approval and will be accurately detecting drug use.

Robert Goodwill, Road Safety Minister said: ‘If you are taking your medicine as directed and your driving is not impaired, then you are not breaking the law and there is no need to worry. We advise anyone who is unsure about the effects of their medication or how the new legislation may affect them, to seek the advice of their doctor or pharmacist’

Martin Hammond from Hammond Trotter solicitors said “I think this legal change is going to see a lot of drivers finding themselves before the bench. There will be two types of offenders, those prescribed drugs and those who partake in illegal drug use. LGV and PSV drivers who feel it is ok to partake in the use of illegal substances in their downtime could face real difficulties. Hopefully these people are a minority, but the testing equipment is going to be very advanced and as these drugs stay in your system for long amounts of time, coupled with the very low tolerance rates, these drivers will find themselves off the road very quickly. Those who are prescribed medications which are to be added are going to have to be very careful what they take and in what amounts, as all machines can be inaccurate and even those who are taking the correct amounts may still find themselves over the legal limit. Those who have accidents and are tested are at even greater risk if they are found over the limits and or impaired’

Hammond Trotter have a number of pages related to this subject on their website which can be accessed here

http://www.drivingdefences.co.uk/drug-driving/

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