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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Drug-driving tests not ready | Drug-driving tests not ready |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Dan Whitworth Newsbeat technology reporter | By Dan Whitworth Newsbeat technology reporter |
| PCs Gareth James and Robbie Burns work for Chester police | PCs Gareth James and Robbie Burns work for Chester police |
| Lives are being put at risk because of delays in getting roadside drug testing kits to police. That's according to road safety campaigners. | Lives are being put at risk because of delays in getting roadside drug testing kits to police. That's according to road safety campaigners. |
| Instead officers say they're still checking drivers by getting them to do things like stand on one leg and walk in a straight line. | Instead officers say they're still checking drivers by getting them to do things like stand on one leg and walk in a straight line. |
| PCs Gareth James and Robbie Burns regularly patrol the roads around Chester looking for drink or drug-drivers. | PCs Gareth James and Robbie Burns regularly patrol the roads around Chester looking for drink or drug-drivers. |
| With Newsbeat tagging along for the night, it's not long before they spot one guy driving without his lights on. | With Newsbeat tagging along for the night, it's not long before they spot one guy driving without his lights on. |
| He's on his way home from a gig and the officers suspect he may have taken drugs. | He's on his way home from a gig and the officers suspect he may have taken drugs. |
| They give him a field impairment test (FIT test), examining his eyes and testing things like his balance and co-ordination. This time he was let go. | They give him a field impairment test (FIT test), examining his eyes and testing things like his balance and co-ordination. This time he was let go. |
| But PC Robbie Burns says it's not always so straight forward. | But PC Robbie Burns says it's not always so straight forward. |
| "One of the worst examples that we dealt with was a delivery van that was totally chopped in half," said Robbie Burns. | "One of the worst examples that we dealt with was a delivery van that was totally chopped in half," said Robbie Burns. |
| "The driver was killed instantly. We later found out that the offending driver actually had amphetamines and cannabis in his system." | "The driver was killed instantly. We later found out that the offending driver actually had amphetamines and cannabis in his system." |
| The victim was dad of two, Ron Birch. His wife Fiona says the impact on their family was horrendous. | The victim was dad of two, Ron Birch. His wife Fiona says the impact on their family was horrendous. |
| She said: "He wasn't just my husband, he was my best friend, my soul mate. | She said: "He wasn't just my husband, he was my best friend, my soul mate. |
| "I just exist, instead of living." | "I just exist, instead of living." |
| Law change? | Law change? |
| Road safety campaigners say the FIT test isn't good enough and police need drug testing kits now. | Road safety campaigners say the FIT test isn't good enough and police need drug testing kits now. |
| But at the moment the law isn't about if drivers have drugs in their system. | But at the moment the law isn't about if drivers have drugs in their system. |
| The drug testing kit is already being used in some EU countriesIt's about whether or not those drugs impair their ability to drive. | The drug testing kit is already being used in some EU countriesIt's about whether or not those drugs impair their ability to drive. |
| The Department of Transport has launched a review into whether the law needs changing. | The Department of Transport has launched a review into whether the law needs changing. |
| Graham Sievers works for a British company, Concateno Plc, that makes and designs drug testing kits already being used in some European countries like Italy and Spain. | |
| "Very simple to use. We get a saliva sample, placed into the handheld computer," he explained. | "Very simple to use. We get a saliva sample, placed into the handheld computer," he explained. |
| "That's analysed and within five minutes you get a result for six drugs." | "That's analysed and within five minutes you get a result for six drugs." |
| The Home Office says it's still working on getting the technology right. | The Home Office says it's still working on getting the technology right. |
| For now police will have to stick to Fit tests to check if people are drug-driving. | For now police will have to stick to Fit tests to check if people are drug-driving. |