Preventing Drug Driving in Europe: Policy measures for national and EU action

Increased levels of enforcement, specialist rehabilitation programmes and more investment in research and data collection are needed to tackle drug driving in Europe, according to this report.The report draws on the latest research to provide an overview of how drugs affect collision risk and the prevalence of different types of drugs in different road users and EU regions.

The report summarises various approaches to combating drug-driving from around Europe and the ways in which they can be used to help tackle both drug-driving itself and other underlying issues related to drug use.

The report says drug driving is responsible for a significant share of deaths on European roads, with psychoactive drugs detected in around 15% of killed and seriously injured drivers.

The report concludes that enforcement, including roadside screening and post-collision forensic testing, needs to be stepped up. It states that the primary factor when it comes to deterring drug driving is perceived risk of detection, but only 11% of drivers think they are likely to be caught.

On rehabilitation programmes for convicted drug drivers, the report recommends separate rehabilitation courses for drug driving and drink driving offenders, and that drug driving programmes should be regulated and common standards introduced.

The report also says that education and publicity campaigns designed to reach target groups, particularly young males, ‘must be expanded’.