Drug detection
Drug driver testing
Our work to develop roadside screening to detect drug drivers.
Drivers can be tested at the roadside for alcohol levels in their blood through the breathalyser. But there is no comparable device for testing drivers impaired because of illicit drugs, prescription drugs, tiredness or for other reasons. Police presently rely on the Field Impairment Test where drivers are asked to perform manual tasks like walking a straight line.
Testing drug drivers
We are developing a roadside screening device to detect drug drivers. If banned substances are found through use of the device, the motorist will be required to go to a police station and take a blood test.
In our device a small amount of oral fluid is placed onto a specially designed chemical slide, which is analysed by exposing the slide to a beam of laser light for a few seconds. It is expected to be able to detect all drugs, including illicit drugs, prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
It will be a couple of years before our multi-drug device is available and type-approved for use as the scientific development work behind it is highly complex.
There is currently no type approval specification for roadside screening devices to detect drugs and so they cannot be used for enforcement purposes. We are therefore working with the Forensic Science Service on a specification for drug-detecting roadside screening devices. It will cover all types of device including the multi-drug device we are developing.
