UK gripped by drug driving epidemic
Drug driving is now more common than drink driving, according to new data obtained from the DVLA.
Analysis of DVLA figures by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart found that there were 30,707 drug driving offences last year, which represents a 28% increase on the 23,981 recorded in 2022.
Meanwhile, 29,769 drink driving offences were recorded in 2025, a fall of 17% from the 2022 total of 35,976.
Further analysis of the figures found that 18% of all drug driving offences were committed by drivers aged 17-24 despite this age group accounting for just six per cent of all motorists on the road.
Drivers aged 17-19 committed 1,100 drug driving offences compared to 464 offences from drivers aged 60 and over.
Drug driving epidemic
IAM RoadSmart director of policy and external communications Nicholas Lyes said: “It’s becoming clear that the UK is mired in a drug driving epidemic, to the point where it may now be more of a threat on our streets than drink driving. These figures demonstrate the need for radical action to support police forces and reduce harm to all other road users.
“The UK government’s road safety strategy clearly outlines the intention to tackle drug driving, but we need to start seeing action soon before more lives are needlessly lost.
“Educating people about the misconceptions of the impacts that drugs have on a person’s ability to drive is a start, but police should be given powers to suspend licences at the roadside for failing a drug swab test.
“In addition, it’s vital that we establish a national drug drive rehabilitation programme. Research has consistently shown similar courses can prevent drink drive reoffending and there’s every reason to believe a similar approach would reduce drug driving, change behaviour, and benefit road safety.
“Drug driving ruins lives and unless we start approaching the issue with the seriousness that it merits, we risk allowing a public safety crisis to worsen.”
