TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

Since August 2000, police officers in the UK have been able to request a person suspected of driving under the influence of a drug to agree to perform a field impairment test to establish whether they are fit to drive. Although the tests are simple and can be completed on the roadside within 10 minutes, there have been doubts about their use. Sweeping changes to section 6 of the Road Traffic Act enables police officers to request breath tests, impairment tests and drug-screening tests, but a Code of Practice still needs to be written and approved by the Home Office. The determination of impairment is discussed. Officers will now be able to call on additional powers in the detection of a drug-impaired driver. The recording of evidence of impairment by the officer at the roadside will provide the best evidence for a prosecution. Renewed police officer training in the detection of impairment will be required.