Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Selous on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether guidance provided to police officers on the implementation of the new drug driving offence will include information on the position of patients taking legitimately prescribed medications; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Department is in regular contact with the Police Service about the implementation of the new drug driving offence and has every confidence that the police will implement it effectively including the application of the statutory medical defence.

The Police Service is in the process of amending their procedures, which will include the statutory medical defence and its operation. These will be issued in advance of the introduction of the new offence. This will provide each force plenty of time to consider the new procedures. We are confident forces will properly consider and include the new offence alongside current drink and drug drive training.