§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will issue guidance on the levels of cannabis consumption for which it would be considered safe to drive; [46259]
(2) what research he has evaluated on the effect on driving ability of various drugs; [46257]
(3) what research he has evaluated on the safe level of cannabis in the body for driving; [46258]
(4) what assessment he has made of recent research from the Transport Research Laboratory on the effect of (a)alcohol and (b)cannabis consumption on driving ability. [46260]
§ Mr. JamiesonA report into the effects of cannabis on driving was published in December 2000. A report on the effects of cannabis and alcohol on driving is expected shortly. A review on the effects of over-the-counter medicines, published in June 2001, concluded that there was a potential for sleepiness in drivers and made recommendations on labelling and guidance to patients. A study into antidepressants and driving is in progress and should be concluded in the summer.
The cannabis research found that there are measurable effects on driver performance and that drivers can be impaired. There are no grounds for specifying a safe level of use of cannabis while driving and no plans to do so.
The issue for road safety is impairment of driving. The Department has therefore been supporting the police in their training of officers in recognising the signs of drug use and in tests to help them judge whether a suspect may be impaired due to drugs.