Drug-driving on rise, roads policing officer warns

Drug-driving is on the increase in Staffordshire as drink-driving offences fall, a roads policing officer has warned.

Since 24 November, the Staffordshire force has tested 1,106 drivers for drink and drug-driving, with 91 arrests.

Those numbers were in line with what officers expected to see, said Insp Chris Moss, adding that although they carried out checks all year round, efforts increased at Christmas to get the road safety message across.

A reduction in drink-driving offences both locally and nationally was a positive thing, added the officer, "but in reflection to that, there has been an increase in drug-driving", albeit still in fewer numbers than those over the alcohol limit.

Insp Moss said it was a myth that police needed a reason to stop a vehicle.

"We can stop any vehicle to check its roadworthiness, and that give us then the opportunity to speak to the driver," he said.

When it came to having a drink at Christmas, police were not "kill-joys", stressed Insp Moss, but the advice to motorists was not to drink anything if driving.

Many people caught for drink-driving in the last month had been tested early in the morning, and were still over the limit from the night before, he said.

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