Motorists who get behind the wheel after taking drugs are being targeted in a new road safety crackdown across Surrey and Sussex. Legislation that came into force today (2 March) sets legal limits for how much of a substance motorists can have in their system while driving.
A new device has also been approved that will allow officers at the roadside to test if a motorist has taken cannabis or cocaine.
Any drivers who fail the tests will be arrested and taken to a police station where they will be asked to provide a blood sample.
The change in the law is designed to make it quicker and easier for drug-drivers to be prosecuted – meaning more of the dangerous motorists can be removed from the streets.
Illegal drugs covered by the new rules include cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and ketamine.
Medicinal drugs covered include diazepam, methadone and morphine.
The limits for these drugs have been set after advice from a panel of medical experts, at the level where the substances begin to affect driving.