Drug Driving Law

Driving on drugs

One of the requirements for maintaining your legal entitlement to drive is that you be considered fit to operate a vehicle under the standards adhered to by the Drivers Medical Group in the DVLA. These standards are established by the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel, a group of medical experts from a wide range of disciplines, who advise the Department of Transport on such matters. The Department of Transport then provide this information to the DVLA who use it as the basis of their Guide to Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive.

One of the standards set out in the Guide states that habitual use of cannabis, when confirmed by a medical investigation, renders one unfit to drive. In effect, this will lead to either refusal or revocation of the driving license of affected individuals.

This driving ban lasts for a minimum of six months, during which the driver in question must be proven to have not used the drug in order to stand a chance of being granted the entitlement to drive again. This will usually have to be verified through independent medical investigation and urine tests, arranged through the DVLA.

It is possible to appeal against such a decision in a Magistrates Court within the time limit specified on the decision letter sent by the DVLA. However, the Court will require you to demonstrate non-usage of cannabis for six months as per the DVLA guidelines before your license can be reinstated.

Dangerous driving offences

According to UK road traffic laws, the term dangerous driving and the associated driving offences fall into two distinct categories. In one sense, anyone at the wheel of a vehicle can be considered a dangerous driver if their ability to drive safely falls below the standards set by road traffic laws.

Laws on speeding in road traffic law

Speeding is one of the most common offences under road traffic law. Despite roads being heavily signposted with varying speed limits, cameras in place and various different police speeding operations in place to stop speeding, individuals continue to do so and continue to get caught.

Using a road traffic solicitor

Due to the wide variety of road incidents that take place throughout the UK, solicitors specialising in road traffic law are often required by motorists to provide legal advice on everything from personal injury insurance claims to driving incidents and offences.