New legislation came into force on March 2, 2015, which makes it an offence for a person to drive with a blood concentration above certain limits for specified controlled drugs. Pharmacists should ensure that affected patients understand the implications of this new legislation.

It is an existing criminal offence, under section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to drive a motor vehicle whilst being unfit as a result of drug consumption.

However, under the new law, a person may be guilty of an offence of drug driving even if their ability to drive is not impaired as a result of drug use.

Section 5A(1) of the act contains the new offence of driving with a concentration of a specified controlled drug above a prescribed limit. The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 specify which controlled drugs are affected and their allowable limits.