Driving on drugs

laissez-faire · 14 Feb 2009 at 14:40

I read that over the counter and prescription drugs fall under a blanket drug driving law.

Does this mean it is technically illegal to drive on any controlled substance or does it mean that it is legal as long it doesn't impair your driving?

How does the type of drug affect the conviction? For example if someone was found to be impaired through painkillers would the conviction be the same as someone impaired through something illegal like speed? What about grey area stimulants like BZP?

Thomas. PLease. · 14 Feb 2009 at 14:42

How are they going to test you for these substances. They are all a huge grey area, because I don't think there is any simple roadside test.

laissez-faire · 14 Feb 2009 at 14:45

whatleytom said:
How are they going to test you for these substances. They are all a huge grey area, because I don't think there is any simple roadside test.

Well they do a roadside test and if they suspect you then they can do a blood test. But I mean, they could 'suspect you' because you had 3 red bulls and your pupils were dilated.

If they then did a blood test and found antihistamines in your blood...... what would they do?

Or a more likely example, they suspected you of driving under the influence of speed (Class B) and then found BZP (Prescription Only Medication) (but largely similar effects) what would the charge be?

Werewolf · 14 Feb 2009 at 16:27

I very much doubt that all over the counter and prescription drugs will fall under a blanket ban - unless the government is even more stupid than I give them credit for (and I give them plenty of credit for being stupid and creating badly worded laws that are either totally unenforceable, or will mean criminalising almost anyone).

However I believe that if you're on certain medication you're meant to inform the DVLA (same with certain medical conditions), and if you're in an accident and found to be using any number of prescription drugs that advise not driving whilst on them, you could be in trouble.

I know for example some of the pain killers i'm on are totally legal (prescription), but can have a major effect on some people (Including myself*) that would make it dangerous to drive whilst using them, and as such there is a warning clearly noted on the label, and the information sheet in the pack to avoid operating heavy machinery or driving.

However many prescription and over the counter "drugs" have no such effects, so unless the government wants to start banning people for taking Asprin then driving

I can't see how they could have a blanket ban on driving whilst on all types of drugs.

*Strong pain killers, so I normally use a weaker one that doesn't leave me in cloud cuckoo land

PhillyDee · 14 Feb 2009 at 18:30

I take Syndol, which is over the counter medication, for a migraine. However, I cannot take it before I will be driving, or at work. It would be worse than driving drunk. It uses a muscle relaxant which really does leave me groggy and unable to concentrate on anything at all. How would they test for them? There would have to be a lot of tests due to the varying nature of all the ingredients. There is a warning inside most medication, even if its just paracetamol, warning you not to drive / operate heavy machinery etc. I use anti-histamines which dont affect me at all, but could send other people to sleep. Would they prosecute if there was an accident, even if it was other peoples fault? I find it unlikely.

Zip · 14 Feb 2009 at 21:34

whatleytom said:
How are they going to test you for these substances. They are all a huge grey area, because I don't think there is any simple roadside test.

To test you for drugs they make you lick this little stip of paper.

If it chages colour they will test you some more to find out what it is IIRC

Steves_pc · 14 Feb 2009 at 22:45

Werewolf said:
I know for example some of the pain killers i'm on are totally legal (prescription), but can have a major effect on some people (Including myself*) that would make it dangerous to drive whilst using them, and as such there is a warning clearly noted on the label, and the information sheet in the pack to avoid operating heavy machinery or driving.

*Strong pain killers, so I normally use a weaker one that doesn't leave me in cloud cuckoo land

Sounds like DHC's, legal so long as you're the one they're prescribed for, if it is them, damn horrid things to get off of. would have been obvious with me in the mornings - brain dead! that was DHC + Amitriptyline!

No way i could drive, tbh i doubt i could have managed a pushbike.

I wonder how many people dont realise they are being affected by the medication they are taking and still drive about.