New drug driving laws are a shock

[jpm129]

has anyone else realised these are coming in. Even painkillers could get you banned if strong enough.

bit.ly/1IIpozJ

Not sure if I should worry. I suspect anyone who has the spliff etc could be in bother.

Sorry don't know how to make link live

When I was on strong painkillers last year I was told it wasn't safe to drive on them. As long as guidance is clear for prescribed drugs then it seems fair enough.

I know people who smoke cannabis and drive and it really makes me cross. If it doesn't affect them, why smoke it. If it does, why drive? I say this as someone who has smoked in the past but would never drink/smoke and drive.

Then again, some people get a bit lively after a 2 shot latte so where to draw a line...

link to article

It's a good thing isn't it? I don't want to on the road with someone who is under the influence of anything, including strong painkillers if those painkillers impair their ability to make good judgements.

Yes, strong pain killers can contain opiates - also found in heroin if you're lucky

What's wrong with it? Impaired driving by legal or illegal drugs or drinking is still impaired driving and endangering other people

Yes, it's a good thing! Smokers of weed all think they are 'ok'

Is it just the drugs in the article? I take codiene and depending on how many they can make me feel odd. I know this and stick to the lower level unless I really need them ( & then don't leave the house anyway!) but I'm now worried in case the lower level could be bad?

I take lots of painkillers and wasn't aware of a change in laws so thanks for linking. I use tramadol daily with no side effects (that would affect driving) and can't see anything about this in the article. I occasionally take diazepam or oromorph or similar morphine prescriptions, I don't feel up to driving on these so wouldn't anyway but I wonder if GPs would need to flag this up as even if the leaflets were changed, I know a lot of long term users like myself don't look at the leaflets any more!

I do think driving impaired by use of illegal drugs is as bad as drink driving and it's good to see the law strengthened on this.

Just to point out, I have a health condition and these are all prescribed, it sounded bad when I read it back!

Presumably gp's will be required to mention it but I think it's up to the individual to take responsibility for themselves.

We've had similiiar laws in Australia for quite a few years. I have no problem with them, the more people removed from the road who shouldn't be behind the wheel of a car, the better.

Personally, I wouldn't rely on a gp to tell me - I think the pharmacist dispensing would be a safer bet especially with dosing being so changeable.

Does anyone know if the new regime requires the police produce evidence that driving was impaired. Or is it just a list of allowable levels of metabolites in the bloodstream, and that's that ?

If the latter, then it makes no difference how your driving was. If you are over - you're charged.