Police crack down on drug-driving as public swallow anti-drinking message Changes to the law to make it an offence to have drugs present in the body while driving will come into force next year, while it was announced this year that 11 forces would introduce so-called "drugalyser" tests for cannabis. Chief Insp Phil Nicholas, of Sussex Police, which has pioneered drugalysers, said: "As the drink-driving message has become ingrained, you will see drivers who would not risk getting into a car when drunk, but who might having take recreational or social drugs, as some drugs become more accessible. They may think they won't get caught, or they may think that they are less impaired as a result of taking drugs. We want to reinforce that, if someone takes drink or drugs and then drives while impaired, they will be arrested and we will take blood in cases where there is no evidence of alcohol. Before the introduction of drugalysers, which test saliva for cannabis, police would have to wait for a doctor to arrive at a police station to take a blood test, which would only be carried out at the medic's discretion. Police are now awaiting the approval by the Home Office of road-side screening devices for drug-driving, Chief Insp Nicholas said, which would boost the number of convictions through instant testing. Ed Morrow, campaigns officer for Brake, the road safety charity, said it was important that drug-driving was not "overlooked." He added: "Any time you get behind the wheel, you need to make sure you're fit to drive. There's no room for impairment, be it by drink, drugs, prescription medication or anything else. It is important that we don't overlook the problem of drug driving, which has a devastating effect on many families. That's why Brake has strongly welcomed Government action in the form of the new law against driving while under the influence of drugs.