Almost 500 Sussex drug-driving arrests in 2017

In 2015, the government instituted regulations to make it illegal to drive above the limits specified for 17 illegal and legal drugs. On the third anniversary of the drug-driving regulations, Sussex police released data on the number of arrests due to these laws, and also reminded drivers that the policies make it more likely that they would be arrested and convicted for driving while under the influence of drugs.

Sussex police made 464 drug-driving arrests between 2 March 2017 and 26 February 2018. The number compares with 558 arrests between March 2016 and February 2017 and 325 between March 2015 and February 2016. Sussex police made only 62 drug-driving arrests during the 12-month period before the implementation of the drug-driving regulations.

Chief Inspector Warren Franklin, of the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, commented: “Now, with this new legislation and the DrugWipe kit – a tool which tests for a number of drugs at the roadside – we can prove it [drug-driving] in a matter of minutes.” He added that the police took a “zero tolerance approach” to enforcing the regulations and that drivers found to be driving under the influence of drugs would be prosecuted.

Motorists convicted of drug-driving could receive a criminal record, be imprisoned for up to six months, lose their driving privileges for a minimum of 12 months, be fined an amount at the discretion of the court, and have an endorsement placed on their driving license for 11 years.