Fears over rise in drug driving

Police Scotland’s festive campaign resulted in a significant number of positive tests

By Gemma Fraser
Head of content

Fears over rise in drug driving

Police Scotland’s festive campaign resulted in a significant number of positive tests

By Gemma Fraser
Head of content

Concerns are growing over the rising number of drug drivers after a festive crackdown resulted in more positive results for illegal substances than alcohol.

Police Scotland’s festive drink and drug driving campaign – which started on December 1 and ran for eight weeks – resulted in 522 positive drug wipe tests, compared with 439 breath tests.

More than 25,000 drivers were spoken to during the campaign, which also included proactive patrols, awareness-raising, targeting key areas, responding to information from the public, and roadside checks.

In total, police carried out 4,779 breath tests and 963 drug wipes.

Brian Jones, vice chair of the Scottish Police Federation, fears the number of drug drivers will continue to increase – while resources in road policing deplete.

“The concerning thing is that we’re seeing more and more drug drivers – it’s becoming more prevalent than drink,” he told 1919.

“And an even bigger concern for us is the lack of traffic cops as there is a significant reduction in road policing.”

Only road policing officers are trained in the use of drug wipes – with the exception of a six-month pilot currently ongoing in Shetland to give local policing officers the powers to use the roadside testing kit.

“Forensic Services will be unable to meet the increasing drug-driving demands without the delivery of a sustainable long-term solution”

Forensic Services director Fiona Douglas

The small pilot will be evaluated, and Police Scotland is working closely with Scottish Police Authority (SPA) laboratories to ensure testing capacity can be managed.

SPA Forensic Services has repeatedly reported difficulties with meeting the demands associated with drug driving since new legislation was introduced in 2019.

In its most recent report, the service highlighted that in the third quarter of this financial year demand for testing outstripped capacity by 148 cases.

In her report, Forensic Services director Fiona Douglas wrote: “Forensic Services will be unable to meet the increasing drug-driving demands without the delivery of a sustainable long-term solution.”

She added: “We are committed to support justice in Scotland and keep our communities safe and protected from drug drivers and the danger they cause on our roads.”

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of road policing, said: “Police Scotland will keep targeting drink and drug drivers and we know how important this is to the public.

“My message to people thinking about driving after taking drugs or alcohol is you will get caught.

“Our officers are out every day, we will arrest you and that will affect you for the rest of your life.

“It’s your choice and it can have a devastating impact on other road users. It changes people’s lives and it is avoidable.”