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One in two drivers stopped on suspicion of drug driving fail roadside drug tests, according to data gathered by road safety charity, IAM Roadsmart.
A freedom of information request was sent to all 45 UK police forces, with 31 providing responses. The data revealed that 51% of drivers tested positive in roadside drug tests in 2023, with 49% testing positive in the first seven months of 2024.
Department for Transport (DfT) figures also show a more than 70% rise in the number of deceased drivers found with ‘impairment drugs’ in their system (2014-22).
William Porter, IAM RoadSmart Policy Manager, said: “The fact that one in two motorists are failing roadside drugs tests shows that the message about the dangers of drug-driving is not getting through. Separate research by IAM RoadSmart indicates that one in seven (16%) drivers aged 17-34 admitted to getting behind the wheel after taking class A drugs, indicating how vital it is to tackle this growing epidemic.”
The risks of drug driving
In the UK, it’s illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, and the law sets strict limits for both illegal substances (e.g. cannabis and cocaine) and certain prescription medications that can cause driver impairment (e.g. morphine and diazepam).
Driving under the influence of drugs not only impacts reaction times, but it can also affect coordination and reduce a driver’s ability to make sound decisions.
Police officers have the power to stop motorists and can also ask them to submit to a roadside drug test, provided they have a reasonable suspicion that the motorist has been using drugs. This helps officers quickly determine whether a person has used drugs recently.
Despite strict laws and enforcement measures surrounding drug driving, the number of offences has risen in recent years, reflecting wider concerns about drug misuse across the UK.
How roadside drug testing works
For a roadside drug test, officers use an oral fluid screening device to collect a sample of saliva from the driver’s mouth.
The test can detect drugs such as cannabis and cocaine in just a few minutes. If necessary, officers can also perform a roadside impairment assessment of the driver’s coordination, balance, and pupil response.
If substances are detected by the oral fluid drug test, the driver is taken to a police station for further screening (e.g. urine or blood testing) to obtain court-admissible results.
Drivers found guilty of drug driving can face severe penalties including a one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, criminal record and up to six months in prison, highlighting the seriousness of drug driving.
When are oral fluid drug tests useful?
A major benefit of oral fluid screening is that it’s non-invasive, quick and reliable, with no special facilities required to perform the test (unlike urine drug tests). It is also very difficult to adulterate/tamper with the test sample.
Oral fluid testing provides what is known as a narrow window of detection (up to approximately 48 hours after drugs were consumed) and can be used to effectively complement hair or nail drug testing; both of which provide an insight into historic drug use, to give a much more detailed, accurate picture of an individual’s long-term and short-term drug use.
Common applications for oral fluid drug testing – beyond roadside drug testing – include:
- Childcare pre-proceedings. where a parent has sole custody of the child(ren) over the weekend or after planned visitation
- Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs), where regular, repeat drug testing is required
- Workplace drug testing, especially in safety-critical industries such as transport and logistics, construction, and manufacturing
- Where a private individual requires a drug test for legal or official matters (e.g. child custody or divorce proceedings, industrial tribunals, driving offences, contractors/consultants starting work)
An AlphaBiolabs oral fluid test can be used to screen for the following substances:
- Amphetamine
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
- Benzodiazepines
- Ecstasy (MDMA)
- Opiates (i.e. heroin)
- Cannabis
- Ketamine
- Tramadol
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
We also provide back-to-lab confirmation screening at our state-of-the-art UK laboratory, for non-negative samples (where substances have been detected).
All oral fluid screenings for legal matters or for the workplace are performed under chain of custody conditions, maintaining the integrity of the sample, and ensuring test results are court admissible.
Drug testing services you can trust
At AlphaBiolabs, we offer a comprehensive range of drug testing services to suit a variety of needs, including for members of the public wanting peace of mind at-home testing, private individuals requiring drug testing for official matters, family law professionals, social workers and local authorities, and for the workplace.
Our in-house toxicologists can analyse a variety of samples for the presence of drugs and their metabolites including oral fluid, urine, hair and nails.
More reasons to choose AlphaBiolabs for drug testing:
- 20+ years’ experience
- Rapid results
- Widest range of drugs tested
- UKAS 17025-accredited with Lab 51 extension for toxicology samples
- All testing performed at our UK laboratory – so samples are never sent abroad
- FREE legally-instructed sample collections at our nationwide walk-in centres
For more information or to request a quote, call us on 0333 600 1300 or email info@alphabiolabs.com.
