Info on new drug related driving laws 15th March
Posted , 4 users are following.
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
1 like, 4 replies
trish140363 Carinaeta
Posted
JulieBadger Carinaeta
Posted
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 JulieBadger
Posted
loxie
Posted