High drivers warned police can see it in their eyes

Drivers who are high on drugs are to be warned in a new TV campaign that the police will catch them out.

Today will see the first of a new set of government TV adverts warning the police can tell if a driver has been using drugs by looking at their eyes.

The "it's all in the eyes" campaign aims to show that it is obvious to police if a driver is under the influence of drugs while behind the wheel because of the involuntary effect they have on their eyes.

Transport secretary Lord Adonis launched the campaign, after research found one in ten young male drivers admit to driving after taking illegal drugs. The first television advert will be shown tonight before Coronation Street on ITV.

The government hopes to highlight the fact that "police can and will detect drug drivers - and that anyone convicted will face the same tough penalties as a drink driver". One in five young drivers killed in a road accident are thought to have been under the influence of drugs.



Reserach shows that canabis slows the reaction time of drivers under its influence while cocaine makes drivers overly confident.

Lord Adonis said: "Government campaigns over the past 40 years have succeeded in making drink driving socially unacceptable and cutting the number of people killed in drink drive accidents by nearly three quarters.

"But some drivers who would never get behind the wheel after drinking still believe they can drive after taking drugs. We are determined to get the message through to this reckless minority that their behaviour is putting lives in danger.

"The penalties for drug driving are just the same as for drink driving because drug driving is just as dangerous. Drivers should be in no doubt that if you get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs then the police can spot you, they can test you and you will face punishment."

Anyone convicted of driving while under the influence of illegal drugs will be banned from driving for a minimum of a year, as well as receiving a criminal record and large fine. The government added police would be particularly targeting drug drivers over the August music festival and holiday season.

But a leading road safety charity has said more still needs to be done. Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, said: "This is a long-overdue campaign to tackle one of the biggest killers on our roads. The government has been aware for years of the significant prevalence of drug driving and its devastating effects.

"Brake is calling on the government to stop dragging its heels and build upon this campaign by urgently approving roadside testing devices to catch drug drivers and implementing their use across all police forces in random tests of drivers at targeted times such as late at night near clubs."

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), added drug driving is a growing problem in the UK. Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety, said: "We know of at least 71 road deaths in 2007 in which impairment due to drugs (illicit or medicinal) was a contributory factor in the accident. But we believe the real number of people affected by drug-drive incidents is probably much higher.

"Those willing to endanger themselves and others by getting behind the wheel after taking drugs need to know that it is simply not true that they will evade detection or prosecution. The police can, and do, conduct roadside tests to help them assess whether a driver is impaired.

"We hope this sorely-needed campaign will give drug users, as well as the general public, pause for thought so that they consider their actions before needlessly putting other people's lives at risk. Passengers should also think carefully before getting into a car if they suspect its driver has taken drugs."