Drug users are being urged to consider their actions

The West of Scotland Road Safety Forum and Strathclyde Police scheme is aimed at the growing number of motorists driving under the influence of drugs.

Officers will use a standard test, known as the field impairment test, to detect drug users at the roadside.

Anyone convicted faces a fine of up to �5,000, six months in prison and the loss of their licence.

Last year Strathclyde Police detected more than one driving offence per day where the driver was deemed unfit to drive through impairment caused by drugs or drink.

One day it's going to end, and those people better hope to God it doesn't end by seeing some five-year-old child bouncing off the bonnet of their car Andrew Sneddon Father of drug-drive victim

Assistant Chief Constable Ricki Gray said: "By raising awareness of the problem of driving while under the influence of illicit drugs, we can work towards reducing the risk from the irresponsible driver who thinks he or she will never be caught.

"My message is quite clear, my officers have the means to catch you and put you before the courts.

"We will do all in our power to target those individuals who continually put lives at risk within our community by driving while impaired."

The strategy will include hard-hitting radio advertising, posters and a new dedicated website, www.stilldrivinghome.com.

The campaign has the support of Andrew Sneddon, whose five-year-old son Ross was killed by a driver under the influence of drugs and drink in Fife earlier this year.

'Appalling tragedies'

Mr Sneddon said: "The reason my son and two others were killed was because somebody decided to take drugs and drive.

"One day it's going to end, and those people better hope to God it doesn't end by seeing some five-year-old child bouncing off the bonnet of their car."

DRUG-DRIVING EFFECTS Cannabis: Concentration can wander, affecting reaction times Cocaine: can lead to misjudging driving speed and stopping distance, can also lead to aggressive driving Ecstasy: can distort vision and heighten sense of sound, decreases awareness of road dangers LSD: drivers may react to objects and sounds that are not there

William McCaig, chairman of the safety forum, added: "Hopefully this will put an end to appalling tragedies like this one in the future."

The initiative has also gained full support from motoring organisations like the AA.

It said drivers could no longer plead ignorance to the effects of drugs on driving or the severe penalties involved.

Previous research from the Scottish Road Safety Campaign found that drug and drink-driving was widespread among people attending dance events and nightclubs, with as many as 85% admitting to having driven after drug use.

It also found that nearly 10% of drivers aged 17-39 had driven under the influence of illegal drugs.