MERSEYSIDE Police are warning motorists that new drug-drive laws come into force today and include prescription medicines used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

From today, it will be illegal to drive with certain drugs above specified blood levels in the body.

These limits are set at very low levels for eight illegal drugs, including cannabis and cocaine and eight medicines that have been set at a higher limit.

Sergeant Paul Mountford, from Merseyside Police roads policing unit, said: “This new law states that it is an offence to drive with certain drugs above specified blood levels in the body, whether you’re driving impaired or not.

“As with alcohol, drugs do impair your ability to drive and is just as unacceptable.

"A drug-drive conviction will have a serious effect on your life including a criminal record, a minimum 12 month driving ban and a fine of up to £5000. It could also cost you your job.”

When a suspected driver is first stopped at the roadside, the officer will firstly require an alcohol breath test.

"If the result is negative, but there is evidence, or the officer suspects the driver of taking drugs, he or she will be asked to undertake a roadside drug impairment test.

If the evidence is sufficient, the officer may arrest the driver for impaired driving. At the police station the driver will be required to provide a preliminary saliva drug test.

Merseyside Police have equipped their custody suites with a device to test suspected drug-drivers.

If the test result is positive, a blood or urine sample is taken, with no need to call a doctor to confirm the presence of a condition due to drugs.

“This saves valuable time in obtaining the evidential sample, provides a more straightforward process and reduces the time that officers spend in custody suites," said Sgt Mountford.

“The new legislation also complements our existing powers and, as with drink driving, there is a ‘screening’ process, which could be either a ‘FIT’ test or use of drug testing wipes or drug testing machine we now have in custody. Blood is still required to be taken following the screening to be able to prove the offence.

“Our main aim across Merseyside is to improve the safety of road users and this legislation provides us with an additional tool to help us with this task.

"As with drink-driving, our advice is simple - just do not drive if you have taken drugs”

More information on the new law can be found here 

NEW DRUG LAW:

The new law sets limits at very low levels for eight drugs commonly associated with illegal drug use, such as cannabis and cocaine, to tackle illegal drug use and driving.

The law also includes eight medicines that are sometimes abused that have been set at a higher limit to reflect their use as medicines, with limits based on the available evidence of the road safety risk.

These medicines are:

• Morphine used to treat pain.

• Diazepam, clonazepam, flunitrazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepam used to treat anxiety or inability to sleep.

• Amphetamine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Parkinson’s disease.

If someone is taking medication as directed and their driving is not impaired then they are not breaking the law.

The majority of patients that are fit to drive and are taking medication as directed are unlikely to be above the specified limit and therefore would not be committing the new offence.

It remains an offence to drive while impaired by drugs and, if in doubt, do not drive.

The new law provides a medical defence if someone is taking medicine in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional, provided they are not impaired.