Nearly half of roadside drug tests carried out in December were positive, new figures reveal.

Nearly 50% of roadside drug tests were positive

Analysis by the AA of Department for Transport figures shows officers in England and Wales carried out 6,846 drug tests in the run-up to Christmas. Of that, 48.5% (3,320) tested positive.

The AA said the figures showed increased use of targeted testing, although the National Police Chiefs Council has also warned of a “social acceptance” of drug driving, particularly among younger people.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “We applaud the police for the targeting of drug drivers over the Christmas period. The fact that the police carried out 6,846 drug tests with 48.5% of those testing positive shows good use of targeting. Drug driving is often a hidden killer, so we support these efforts.

“However, there does seem to be another problem and ‘trend’ now which is the use of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) whilst driving, which has led to several deaths. We know the police are aware of this issue, but it is difficult to police unless the culprits are caught in the act. Our plea to all drivers is to never drive after taking any sort of drugs or indeed when over the alcohol limit. Drink, drugs and driving should never be mixed.”

The AA also analysed drink-drive test figures and found there were just under 50,000 (49,812) breath tests conducted in December 2023, compared to just under 40,000 the year before. Test rates are back to pre-Covid levels. Of the breath tests, 4,716 (9.5%) were recorded as positive, failed, or refused.

In total, 14% of tests showed a positive for drink or drugs, with 1,589 people charged with drink or drug driving. A total of 84% of drink or drug driving offenders were male, with 74% aged 25 years old or over.

These figures come as police chiefs call for the power to disqualify drink or drug drivers instantly at the roadside.

Breath tests figures for the month of December:

Department for Transport figures estimate nearly 7,000 people were killed or injured in drink-drive related collisions in 2021. Research shows that if you’ve had a drink, you’re 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than if you were sober.

Drivers who get behind the wheel with too much alcohol in their system risk a prison sentence, being banned from driving, and face a fine of up to £2,500 if found guilty. Other penalties can be found here.