Drug-driving law

The British government is evaluating the possibility of set up a law against taking drugs and drive. For doing this, the Department for Transport is assembling a panel of experts, composed by academics and scientist, to decide different aspects about this law.

The idea of a drug-driving law comes up after lasts figures that show a large increasing in fatal accidents involving drug use during the last decade. Some figures show that around 30% and 50% of road accidents in lasts years are related to use of drugs like a contributory factor. Besides that, there are many cases where drug -driving is combined whit drink, but without a drug-driving law only drink-driving is penalized.

But one of the problems about this law is how to proof the use of drugs in drivers. Some experts suggest applying a roadside drug tester kit, something similar to breathalyser. This “drugalyser” works whit a saliva tests that can detect illicit substances presents in some drugs. This is already being used in Australia, but there are some limits related to its use: some experts mention that drug tests can be positive even one month later the use of drug, so it will be more difficult to judge if drivers are whether using drugs or not.

Besides that, the use of a roadside drug tester kit will means to establish an universal drug level accepted, and that’s contradictory in case of taking about illicit substances, like most of drugs are.

Other point that will be evaluated is to apply this law to motorists.

Finally, the panel will meet in spring for evaluate this and other points, and to decide if this law could rules or not in Britain. What do you think about this law in Chile?

(Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/04/law-drug-driving-roadside-tests )