Calls for roadside drug testing

"Drugalyser" kits, would work in a similar way to breathalysers

Roadside drug-testing should be introduced without delay, the Scottish Conservative Party have demanded.

The party has claimed one in 10 motorists leaving Glasgow city centre after 0200 GMT during the weekend is driving under the influence of drugs.

The party's justice spokesman Bill Aitken said the present system for tackling the problem was "laborious".

A Scottish Government spokesman said they were liaising with Westminster to strengthen the law in this area.

Mr Aitken said the problem of drug-driving demanded urgent attention.

The sooner this equipment is available for use in Scotland, the better it will be for the safety of everyone on our roads Bill Aitken Tory justice spokesman

He said: "It has been suggested that as many as one motorist in 10 leaving Glasgow city centre after 2am on a Saturday or Sunday morning is driving under the influence of drugs and this is causing the police considerable problems."

He urged the UK Government to act with urgency to make available technology similar to that used to detect drink drivers. The present system involves asking suspects to walk in a straight line and do mental arithmetic.

"As this is a reserved issue, we wrote to the Home Secretary, to establish when the government would introduce mandatory roadside testing for drugs and to inquire whether a 'drugalyser', as currently used in Australia, will be introduced UK-wide," he said.

Mr Aitken added: "The reply stated that the best case scenario was a testing kit by the end of 2007 and clearly that best case scenario has not been met.

"The sooner this equipment is available for use in Scotland, the better it will be for the safety of everyone on our roads."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are committed to ensuring that our police have the powers and resources needed to keep our roads safe, including targeting those selfish motorists who put others at risk by driving under the influence of drugs."