§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the impact that taking illegal drugs has on the driving ability of motorists; and if he will make a statement; [94511]
(2) what assessment he has made of the impact that taking over the counter medicines has on the driving ability of motorists; and if he will make a statement; [94512]
666W(3) what initiatives his Department is taking to alert drivers to the hazards associated with drug abuse and driving; [94513]
(4) what plans he has for advertising campaigns to raise the profile of drug abuse related to driving; [94514]
(5) what discussions he has held with the pharmaceutical industry on driving under the influence of drugs. [94515]
§ Mr. HillSome medicinal and illegal drugs can impair driving ability and its is already an offence to drive while impaired through drugs. The Association of Chief Police Officers is researching suitable training for police to recognise the outward signs of drug taking and to assess driver impairment. The Department and the Home Office are supporting that and the development of roadside screening devices to further assist the police in enforcing the law effectively. However, the effect of drugs, both medicinal and illegal, on driving ability is a very complex issue and, in contrast to alcohol, it is very difficult to correlate directly the level of consumption with impairment of driving. Research is ongoing into the extent of the problem—an essential first step in formulating suitable and effective countermeasures. The Department is also participating in European Union research projects to develop roadside devices to screen for the presence of drugs and to detect impairment in a driver.
The Department is considering how the risks of driving under the influence of drugs might be publicised. The acknowledged success of the Department's drink drive campaigns was accompanied by effective enforcement and good knowledge of the way in which alcohol impairs driving. That makes such campaigns effective overall because they are authoritative, well targeted and there is a real threat of getting caught. For drugs (both illegal and medicinal), we would need to target any such campaigns towards the precise nature and extent of the problem and would need to give positive advice informed by well based knowledge.
I understand from the Medicines Control Agency that the current guidelines for pharmaceutical companies dictate that all medicines must comply with European Commission Directive 92/27/EEC on the labelling of medicinal products for human use and on package leaflets. All products have a Summary of Product Characteristics which explains how the medicine acts, how it should be used and any side effects that might be experienced, including a section on the effect of the medicine on the ability to drive. Prescribers are also provided with information on the effects of medicines on the ability to drive in the British National Formulary. This also lists standard pharmacy labels which pharmacists add when dispensing medicines that may affect a patient's ability to drive. Information for patients about medicines, including the effects on the ability to drive, is also provided to patients in Patient Information Leaflets. These should now be supplied with all medicines.
The information included in the Summary of Product Characteristics, including the effects on the ability to drive, is based on data supplied by pharmaceutical company at the time a product licence is applied for. This may be updated as further information becomes available.
667W
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of traffic accidents which occurred within the UK as the result of illegal drug abuse from May 1997 to June 1999; [94448]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of traffic accidents which occurred within the UK as the result of the use of legal over the counter medicines from May 1997 to June 1999. [94449]
§ Mr. HillThe road accident statistics do not include information on drug use. The Department is undertaking research into the incidence of drugs in road accident fatalities. However, the presence of drugs, whether legal or illegal, is not of itself evidence of impairment of driver ability or accident causation.