malcolmw wrote:
Does anyone else think that, when this is introduced, there will be huge numbers of people found to be under the influence?
Yes I do. It is unclear precisely which 'drugs' they intend to check for and I agree that there is a very difficult task in the level of 'danger' and 'risk' and how to obtain a prosecution threshold.
I think as long as they target 'genuine' 'drugs' like cocaine and such then things will be reasonable and fair.
But we already know that rules and regs become "mis-guided" targets, for some, and it can become an excuse to just 'prosecute as many as possible' including those who are otherwise safe and (previously) perfectly legal.
An interesting discussion I had was about migraine tablets. the packet (as with many) allows the user to judge and frankly that is absolutely correct. This is true of many drugs it depends how the 'illness' has progressed and at what point the tablets are taken as to 'how' ill one might be. It would be completely impossible for a test to 'show' how ill someone was other than incompetency of driving.
And this is of course what all this is about, as Malcolm has already said, it is about driving/riding ability and so the inability when under the influence ... and showing that one's standard of control is impaired to enough of a degree to be a risk to yourself and those around you.
It is not about making extra Laws but about safety on the road and ensure that enough Laws exist to prosecute when necessary. It maybe that there needs to be additional guidance for those who were found to have 'drugs' and were incompetent. Perhaps the Law can allow for greater training or for additional penalties /guidance/ further (proper) courses or programs if they wish to retain their licences.
I appreciate that to prove this in Court there is a case of extra and necessary testing to prove the 'drug' case, for them to then be offered the better penalties to encourage the best outcome - i.e. don't drive under the influence ... be properly in charge of a motor vehicle.
I do have grave concerns that many will fall foul of this as it will open the flood gates to 1000's being prosecuted for legal drugs, because to identify the illegal drugs and the levels it will 'catch' innocent people too.
This may have the detrimental effect, (even life threatening) that many will stop taking their important and necessary drugs for fear of prosecution.
I do agree totally that 'stoned when driving/riding' makes you impaired and not in full control and that needs to be addressed and those who do so to receive punishment and placed on a 'drug-program' (not a Drug Awareness Course!).