Drug driving is on the rise following the pandemic Fleet World warns fleet managers.
15/08/2022
According to the Association of Fleet Professionals ( AFP) drug driving is becoming an increasing issue for fleets after the pandemic.
Their concern is not illicit drugs such as cannabis or cocaine but prescription and over the counter medication. Such medication may fall under the prescribed drugs listed for driving over the prescribed limit such as diazepam but many others do not but still present a danger.
Chair Paul Hollick explained “The growing problem here is not with recreational drugs but those that have been prescribed by your doctor or even those that can be bought freely in any pharmacy and often supermarkets too. Ironically they can be found in service stations”
“It’s an issue that seems to have become especially acute as a result of the pandemic. Drivers are buying or being prescribed medications to treat immediate or ongoing symptoms of COVID and, as a result, could be placing themselves and other road users in danger”
The reality, however, is that there has been an increase in the number of drivers driving over the prescribed limit for illicit drugs as well and neither should be ignored. In 2020 there was an increase in drug drive convictions of 14% to 13,700 and police forces are reporting higher number of arrests. It is expected to take over drink drive convictions in the coming months.
Mr Hollick mentions to Fleetworld that “there are substances not covered by drug-driving legislation and technically legal to take whilst driving but brining increased risk”. However, that is not strictly correct, employers and driver should be aware that just because the drugs are not listed as those prescribed under the drug legislation, a driver can be prosecuted for other offences which attract the same penalties and disqualification such as driving whilst unfit under the influence of any drug.
Research undertaken by the DETR showed that drivers who attend rehabilitation courses are three times less likely to re-offend those who do not.
At present the court has the discretion to offer a drink drivers rehabilitation course which the driver may undertake if they wish to have their disqualification reduced by 25% , the same is not available to those convicted of drug driving or driving whilst unfit through drugs.
This is now under review after the Secretary of State for Transport wishes to tackle the rise in drug drive offending. Some course providers are already looking at developing drug drive courses or a combined drink/drug drive course. This would operate in the same way so that drivers who are offered the course could reduce their disqualification by 25%.
However, that is very much, “after the event”. The risk of drink and drug driving is obvious and are still a major contributing factor to road traffic accidents. AFP are urging fleet managers to manage that risk and Auriga Fleet agree. They suggest that regular and specific reminders should be sent out throughout the year and employers should take responsibility for their fitness to drive.
Auriga agree regular reminders would be helpful but more importantly your drivers should have:
- Basic training in drink and drug driving
- Fitness to drive applications to complete before driving
- Testing for drink and drugs in high risk cases.
All, of which, will reduce a company’s risk of accidents and prosecution under the health and safety legislation.
Gone are the days when employers could just give lip service to the drink and drug driving policies by inserting a clause which states – “if a driver is convicted of drink/drug driving they will face immediate dismissal”. This will offer little protection if a company is prosecuted under health and safety or corporate manslaughter legislation. In the case of Renown Ltd, Judge Goldsmark said that “while fleet safety policies were in place operations managers paid “lip service” to them. Not only do companies need clear policies designed to reduce the risk of drug driving they should also have procedures which are followed.
Alarmingly, 79% of SME’s do not think they need to manage the driving risk let alone the drug/drink driving risk, but it is vital to do so, as penalties can put a company out of business for “ doing nothing” or just giving “lip service”.
Auriga Fleet offer:-
- A Motoring risk assessment
- A written policy and procedure
- Driver training in drug driving inter alia
- Fitness to drive application
- Drug and drink driving tests
If you are interested in how we can help your business reduce the risk of drug driving please contact us on
01270 509496