'Shocking' levels of drug driving revealed by chief constable
The most common drugs tested for are cannabis and cocaine
Sussex’s chief constable Jo Shiner has warned drug driving is fast becoming the biggest 'silent threat' to safety on our roads.
Police stopped more than 700 motorists and made 51 arrests across Sussex in the first week of a month-long crackdown to target drink and drug drivers.
28 of the arrests were for drug driving.
The number of people killed in the UK as a result of drug driving is increasing.
Chief Constable Shiner said: "The rates of drug driving, the complacency towards drug driving, the impact on families whose loved ones are killed through drug driving is truly shocking and it’s become a silent threat to public safety.
"I want to change that.
"Drink driving will always remain a key concern but there is now much greater awareness and challenge and, in some respects, it can be easier to spot.
"That’s not the same for drug driving.
"Drug driving needs to be made as socially unacceptable as drink driving and not wearing a seat-belt, where people think twice before getting in a vehicle."
Nationally, the number of positive drug wipe tests carried out by police has tripled between 2015 and 2020, from 931 to 2813.
The most common drugs tested for are cannabis and cocaine.