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Info on new drug related driving laws 15th March

Posted , 4 users are following.

Carinaeta
Carinaeta

Hi, thought I would copy and paste info I put on another thread in case anyone has missed this and is worried;

This is the guidance;

A new offence of driving with certain specified controlled drugs1 in excess of specified levels in the body is expected to come into force on 2 March 20152. This offence is an addition to the existing rules on drug impaired driving and fitness to drive. The legislation also provides for a statutory "medical defence" for this new offence, for patients taking their medicines in accordance with instructions.

In line with current professional practice, healthcare professionals prescribing or supplying medicines take account of the risks of medicines (such as whether a patient’s driving may be impaired by their medicines) and advise accordingly. This clinical practice has not changed. However, healthcare professionals are likely to want to be able to explain the new rules concerning this offence to patients.

So its saying that you are ok if you are taking the drugs as prescribed and its down to your doctor to advise you on this.

Also  it only affects these drugs;Cannabis (THC)* Cocaine (and a cocaine metabolite, BZE)

MDMA (Ecstasy) Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

Ketamine Heroin/diamorphine metabolite (6-MAM)

Methylamphetamine

Clonazepam Flunitrazepam** Oxazepam

Diazepam Lorazepam Temazepam

**No longer licenced in the UK

Plus:

Methadone Morphine Amphetamine***

A patient who was investigated for drug driving would generally be entitled to raise the statutory "medical defence" if:

a. The drug was lawfully prescribed, supplied, or purchased over-the-counter, for medical or dental purposes; and

b. The drug was taken in accordance with advice given by the person who prescribed or supplied the drug, and in accordance with any accompanying written instructions (so far as the latter are consistent with any advice of the prescriber).

So, I think we're covered smile

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • JulieBadger
    JulieBadger Carinaeta

    Posted

    Reading the paperwork inside my latest medicine it seems to be based on whether it makes you feel drowsy therefore imparing your driving ability.

    Therefore if you have it perscribed, are taking it as per the doctors perscription and you have tested it to make sure you are not made drowsy by the medicine then you are fine to drive.

    However, if you have just been perscribed a different / new type of medicine then you do need to check to see if it makes you drowsy before driving.  Driving because it is a perscription is not valid if you were aware that it was making you drowsy.  This is of course what any medicine has been stating for years which might have a drowsiness side-affect.

     

    • loxie
      loxie JulieBadger

      Posted

      You're correct Julie - there was a case of a person who was charged with a driving offence because they were taking anti histamines which impaired their ability and they were caught out because the previous week apparently they had been found asleep in the car in a lay-by by police who'd made a record of the incident.  They were charged the first time, just moved on but they then had a minor accident and the first event was considered as evidence they knew the otc meds caused drowsiness so should have taken responsibility not to drive whilst impaired by them.  Guess we just have to use our common sense in these matters as we know better than they whether or not a specific medication affects our abilities.
    • loxie
      loxie

      Posted

      Sorry that should read 'werent charged the first time' not 'were'....arthritis fingers not keeping up with geriatric brain sad
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