- Driving on drugs is never worth the risk
- It’s illegal in Scotland, and immediate roadside testing can be carried out at any time.
Drugs can slow down your responses, making it more likely you’ll have a collision on the road. This can lead to severe injuries and even death.
The effects of drug driving can seriously ruin lives. Not just yours, but other road users and their families too.
If you’re caught and convicted of drug driving, here’s what you can expect to face as a minimum:
- 12-month driving ban
- 3 to 11 points on your licence
- Up to six months in prison
- Up to £5,000 fine
- An offence that stays on your licence for 11 years
- Causing death carries a maximum 14-year jail sentence
- You could lose your car and even your job.
THE LAW IN SCOTLAND
- It’s illegal to take drugs and drive in Scotland – and the punishments are severe
- The law also includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs that you’re not meant to use whilst driving
- The penalties for driving while on these drugs are exactly the same as having illegal substances in your system.
THE EFFECTS CAN LAST A LIFETIME
A drug driving conviction can change your life for years to come.
You could:
- Lose your job, or business, if you can’t drive
- Struggle to get another job because of your criminal conviction
- Face a significant increase in your vehicle insurance
- Have difficulty travelling abroad – especially to the USA
HOW YOU CAN BE CAUGHT
It’s easier than you think to get caught drug driving.
You could be:
- Stopped by the police for a routine check
- Stopped for another traffic offence – like not wearing a seatbelt or a faulty light
- Involved in a crash, even one which is not your fault
- Reported by someone who suspects you’ve been taking drugs
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET CAUGHT
- If an officer reasonably suspects that you have taken or are under the influence of drugs whilst driving you may be arrested or required to carry out a roadside drug wipe test
- You may also be required to carry out a preliminary impairment test
- If the drug wipe is positive or the preliminary test indicates drugs in your system, it is likely you will be arrested and taken to a police station
- At the station you will be required to provide a blood or urine sample which will be sent for testing. The result of this test will be used to make a decision about any prosecution
HOW DRUGS CAN AFFECT YOUR DRIVING
- Depending on what’s been taken, drugs have different effects on driving ability
- Many impair awareness, judgement and reaction times
- Drugs can still be detected in your system quite a few days after they’ve been taken
- Many prescription drugs can also make you drowsy and affect vision, coordination and concentration
For more information on the effects of specific drugs, read the content on release.org and changes to drug driving law on gov.uk.
PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS
It’s illegal to drive using any medicines that affect your driving abilities. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Some medicines, like hay fever remedies, can cause drowsiness and impairment
- The penalties for driving while impaired by prescribed drugs can be just as severe as illegal ones
- It can be an offence to drive if you’re over the stated limits of certain drugs – whether they’re prescribed or over-the-counter
- Always check the information leaflet, or ask the pharmacist for any driving restrictions
There are no issues if:
- You’ve been prescribed the drug, and
- It’s taken as prescribed, and
- It doesn’t affect your driving.
