Drink-drive offenders to be warned of dangers of drug driving

DfT to pilot new approach to driver education

A new course designed to educate drink drivers of the dangers of drug driving is being piloted by the Department for Transport. During the pilot, drug driving education will be added the existing rehabilitation courses in England and Wales for people convicted of driving while over the alcohol limit. 

About 1,000 offenders will attend the combined courses, which have been introduced after figures show a fifth of convicted drug drivers had previously been banned for drink driving.

Andrew Jones, road safety minister, said: “We have some of the safest roads in the world and have introduced tougher penalties for drink and drug driving to make them even safer. Getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs can have catastrophic results, for drivers and passengers and can ruin families’ lives. Educating offenders of the dangers of drug driving will help prevent it in the future.”

Ken Skates, economy and infrastructure secretary at Welsh Government, added: “Whilst the number of casualties on Welsh roads has nearly halved since 1999, every casualty is one too many. It’s vital that all ways of further reducing dangerous driving and the casualties that stem from it are explored in full.

That starts with education and providing clear information that can prevent re-offending wherever possible.”

Since the introduction of new rules around drug driving and easier testing in March 2015, around 7,000 drivers have been banned compared to 879 in 2014.

Rehabilitation courses allow first time offenders to be educated about the impacts of drink driving on themselves, other road users and the emergency services.

Drink drivers in court are offered to attend a rehabilitation course in return for a lesser fine and shorter ban. The courses will be run until the end of March 2017. The results will form the basis for a consultation next year to make these rehabilitation courses available for drug drivers.

The five providers for courses in England are VMCL, TTC 2000, Reform, Drink Drive North and Driversseat. In Wales, the courses will be run by TTC 2000 and New Link.

Rob Manfield, outgoing chairman of the Association of Drink Drive Approved Providers of Training, said: “We know that some drink drivers also use drugs. This pilot provides a great opportunity to intervene and educate drink drivers, so when they get their licence back they will have a much greater knowledge of the risks both drink and drugs pose to themselves and other road users.”