By Adam Morris
Efforts to tackle Scotland’s escalating drug-driving crisis have suffered a fresh blow after it emerged scores of drivers across the country have multiple convictions for the crime.
Research by 1919 has revealed there are 164 motorists across the country who have been convicted of the offence on at least three occasions.
The DVLA figures show 12 of these have between five and nine offences on their record, while one driver has amassed between 10 and 14 convictions.
Motoring bodies warned current penalties “aren’t effective”, while Police Scotland officers said they fear the force does not have the resources to cope.
Soaring instances of drug-driving are placing immense strain on police. The problem is so rife that around half of suspects who are now pulled over test positive for an illegal substance.
Efforts to ramp up testing have been hampered by a lack of funding and capacity issues faced by a forensics division which already has to outsource much of its work to England.
“There’s been a significant increase in drug-driving right across the UK – it’s a major problem and we haven’t even touched the sides with it,” said Brian Jones, vice-chair of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF).
“It’s one of the fatal five, but do Police Scotland have the resources to tackle it? The answer at this moment in time is no.
“With repeat offenders of this nature, the only way to stop them would appear to be a custodial sentence.”
Drug-driving has long since replaced drink-driving as the primary threat on Scotland’s roads.
Every month, the number of tests carried out by traffic officers exceeds original expectations by around a quarter, deluging laboratories with hundreds of samples.
“It’s one of the fatal five, but do Police Scotland have the resources to tackle it? The answer at this moment in time is no”
Earlier in the summer, it was reported that a flagship policy to train frontline officers across the country in drug testing had stalled following the Scottish Government’s budget settlement.
Policing sources said a number of factors were behind the rise, such as a cultural shift among younger people from drink to drugs, more precise testing technology, and poor awareness around how long substances stay in the system.
One said: “There’s a lack of understanding, especially among young males, who can have drugs detected on a Monday from weekend consumption.”
Now it has emerged that scores of drivers got back behind the wheel despite already being caught on multiple occasions.
A freedom of information request by 1919 revealed the number of drivers with DG10 codes – the legal term for drivers convicted of driving or attempting to drive under the influence of drugs – registered on their licence in Scotland.
The DVLA data is a snapshot as of the end of June. New entrants can appear at any time, while those with older convictions can fall off the list.
It is not known what proportion of those on the list are currently banned from the road.
The DVLA said it was merely a record keeper, and it was for the courts to decide on the severity of punishments. A spokesperson also added that this data did not include some other drug-related offences.
“164 motorists in Scotland having multiple convictions suggests current penalties aren’t effective in preventing some drug-drivers from repeating their crimes”
The motoring firm RAC has repeatedly raised concerns about drug-driving across the UK, floating suggestions such as rehabilitation schemes similar to those used for drink-drivers.
It also pointed to Australia, where authorities routinely use roadside saliva testing to snare suspected drug-drivers on the spot, rather than waiting for lengthy laboratory results.
“While drink-driving tends to attract more headlines, these figures show just how much of a problem the more ‘under-the-radar’ issue of drug-driving is becoming,” said head of policy Simon Williams.
“164 motorists in Scotland having multiple convictions suggests current penalties aren’t effective in preventing some drug-drivers from repeating their crimes and putting everyone at risk.”
Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, head of road policing, said: “Police Scotland will continue to target drug-drivers.
“Alcohol and drugs make a collision more likely and the impact destroys lives. Road policing officers are out every day on patrol and undertaking roadside checks.
“Our enforcement role will continue alongside the multi-agency approach and partnership work to encourage crucial behaviour change among drivers.”
Number of drivers in Scotland who currently have DG10 offence codes on their licence
| Range of offences | Total number |
|---|---|
| 3-4 offences | 151 |
| 5-9 offences | 12 |
| 10-14 offence | 1 |
| TOTAL | 164 |