DORSET Police have issued a warning and expressed their disappointment that 'drivers are continuing to risk people's lives' after figures reveal almost 50 motorists were caught driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs since the introduction of the new drug driving law.

New legislation was brought in covering legal driving limits for 17 illegal and prescription drugs on March 2 last year.

Under the old laws, police had to show driving was impaired by drugs to prosecute.

In March 2015, new drug driving laws in England and Wales made it a specific offence to drive after having certain drugs above prescribed levels.

Figures obtained by the Echo under a Freedom of Information request reveal a total of 49 drivers were arrested for drug driving offences between March 2015 and April 2016 and subsequently 24 had been charged. Ten of the drivers were caught in west Dorset, five in Weymouth, one in north Dorset and one in Purbeck. The highest number of drivers caught were in Bournemouth with a total 13 drivers, including seven who were later charged.

The limits set for each drug is different, and for illegal drugs the limits set are extremely low, but have been set at a level to rule out any accidental exposure, such as from passive smoking.

Officers can test for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside, and screen for other drugs, including ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin at the police station. Even drivers that pass the roadside check can be arrested if the police suspect that your driving is impaired by drugs.

Those caught face a minimum 12-month driving ban, up to six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a criminal record.

Your driving licence will also show you have been convicted for drug driving for 11 years.

The penalty for causing death by dangerous driving under the influence of drugs is a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

A conviction for drug driving also means your car insurance costs will increase significantly and if you drive for work your employer will see your conviction on your licence and you may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA.

Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, Head of the Alliance Road Policing team across Devon and Cornwall and Dorset Police, said: “Although the number of people arrested in Dorset may be low compared with other force areas, we are disappointed that drivers are continuing to risk people’s lives by getting behind the wheel after taking drugs.

“Evidence has shown that drugs can impair someone’s ability to drive and can cause collisions. The drug driving legislation allows us to remove dangerous drivers from our roads.

“I would like to warn motorists that the drug driving limits for drugs are extremely low so taking even a small amount could put them over the limit.

“There are serious consequences from a drug drive conviction including a criminal record, a minimum 12-month driving ban and a fine of up to £5,000.

“We certainly hope that the road-side tests will continue to deter people from driving under the influence of drugs."

Dorset Police explained that the fact only 24 people were charged could be for a number of reasons including laboratory test results coming back under the prescribed limits or that investigations are ongoing and people remain on police bail pending further enquiries and test results.

In March last year a grandmother was tragically killed by a driver who took part in an eight-hour drug taking session the night before getting behind the wheel and causing the fatal crash.

The collision happened on Raymonds Hill in Lyme Regis, killing a much-loved grandmother, Stella Osborn, who was from Lincolnshire.

The driver, 30-year-old Natalie Roach from Lyme Regis, was jailed for six years in July 2016 at Dorchester Crown Court for two counts of causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of drugs.

The court had heard how Roach told police in an interview how between 9pm the night before and 5am on the morning of the crash she had taken cannabis, heroin and cocaine. When her blood was tested after the crash she was found to be 10 times over the limit for Benzoylecgonine, the metabolic agent in cocaine, and was also over the prescribed-limit for cannabis.

At the sentencing of Roach, Sgt Joe Pardey, of Dorset Police’s Road Traffic Unit, said: “This case highlights that driving while intoxicated whether through alcohol or drugs has huge effects on a driver’s ability to drive carefully and competently.

“The consequences can be tragic. A family has lost a wife, mother, grandmother and friend and the effects of this collision will never go away. The death of Mrs Osborn was unnecessary and avoidable.

“While any sentence passed will never be enough to replace a life, I hope that the court’s decision will provide a further deterrent to those who think it is acceptable to drive under the influence of drink or drugs.

“Dorset Police will continue to detect, enforce and charge those found to be committing drink and drug driving offences.”