New drug driving limits will help improve road safety in Scotland, says Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill

A ZERO-TOLERANCE limit for eight drugs including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin has been proposed.

PLANS to bring in new drug driving limits will help improve road safety in Scotland, the Justice Secretary has said.

But it would have been preferable for all power over the proposed new offence to be given to Holyrood, Kenny MacAskill said.

The UK Government has just launched a consultation aimed at making it easier to prosecute drivers who get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs.

A zero-tolerance limit for eight illegal drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and heroin, is proposed.

Limits would also be set for eight controlled drugs that have widespread medical use but can also affect a person's ability to drive, such as temazepam, diazepam and methadone.

The proposals seek to end an anomaly which means that being on the roads after taking an illegal drug is only an offence if police prove that driving was impaired.

But while the Scottish Government has the power to set the drug driving limit, the responsibility for all other matters related to drug driving remains with Westminster.

The UK Government has agreed to extend the consultation to cover Scotland but, depending on the responses received, ministers at Holyrood may adopt a different approach from Westminster.

The SNP administration has already set out plans to reduce the drink driving limit, with Mr MacAskill saying: "The Scottish Government is determined to do everything we can to make our roads safer and save lives. We have already announced our intention to lower the drink drive limit, but we must not lose sight of the problems caused by drug drivers.

"In line with our approach on drink driving, it may have been preferable to devolve all responsibility relating to the new drug driving offence. Nonetheless, having the power to set drug driving limits is a useful responsibility to have as part of our desire to improve road safety in Scotland.

"Alongside the existing offence of driving while being impaired through drugs, this new offence will help police and prosecutors tackle irresponsible drug drivers more effectively as it will no longer be necessary to prove impairment on a case-by-case basis in order to obtain a conviction."

UK Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said the proposed approach sends a clear message that driving under the influence of illegal drugs will not be tolerated. But he said that setting limits for controlled drugs will clarify the position for those who need to take medication.

"Drug driving is a menace which devastates families and ruins lives," Mr Hammond said.

"That is why we are proposing to take a zero-tolerance approach with those who drive under the influence of illegal drugs and sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

"We have also put forward our proposals for dealing with drivers who use specific prescribed drugs. We know that the vast majority of people who use these drugs are doing so responsibly and safely and that is why our approach does not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly prescribed medicines.

"Together, these proposals will make our roads safer for everyone by making it easier for the police to tackle those who drive after taking illegal drugs and clarifying the position for those who take medication."

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk 09/07/2013