Dear all,

In the Queen’s Speech on 09 May 2012, the UK Government announced it would be bringing forward a Bill primarily to establish a new National Crime Agency to tackle serious and organised crime and to strengthen border security. The Bill also seeks to reform the courts and tribunals service and to make provisions about drugs and driving. We believe the section on drug driving could have a significant, unforeseen impact on patients with RA that are taking long-term medication to manage their chronic pain. As a result, NRAS is now lobbying for improvements to the Bill. The new legislation will be applicable to England, Scotland and Wales.

For more information, see our latest campaigns here: Campaigns - Drug Driving

At the bottom of the article it lists the two ways in which you can help - by either signing our e-petition or signing up to our new e-campaigis bulletin.

Many thanks

Emma

NRAS Membership Supervisor

Surely no-one should drive under the influence of drugs, prescription or otherwise?
The effects of prescription painkillers on a person's ability to drive can be just as devastating as the effects of illegal drugs.

Doreen xx

I agree with you Lyn, I won't sign it either, at least not until I've studied it a bit more.

Doreen xx

As I understand it the amendment to the wording does not seek to put RA sufferers outside the law, but just to safeguard them so that they have a slightly earlier opportunity to put their case that the drugs in question are taken as prescribed. At present the wording is such that they would have to go to court with all the stress and costs associated.

Obviously if the person has been wilfully driving whilst not safe to do so and has caused an accident then that is clearly grounds for prosecution. However, if we see a situation where somebody is pulled over for something very minor and roadside tests indicate that they have levels of drugs in their system there should be safeguards in place to ensure that they can explain that these are prescribed medication before it goes all the way to court - in the case of drink driving, people are often pulled in for things as minor as faulty brake lights or driving unduly cautiously and that is the pretext for a breath test. But obviously with alcohol there is no excuse and it is a simple decision - if you're over the limit then you're breaking the law and get prosecuted, regardless of whether the actual driving offense is trivial or serious.

I don't know how the police will conduct tests for drugs, but if it is similar to that for alcohol then there should be extra safeguards to handle these types of issues. I know from my own personal experience that I am usually perfectly safe to drive even though I take strong painkillers all the time, but tiredness can be an issue for me and each driver has a personal resposibility to avoid driving if they are so unwell that it makes them unsafe. However, I'm not such a perfect driver that I don't make occasional mistakes and I have been pulled over in the past - most recently for speeding and I don't mean going mad, just a few mph over the 30 limit and was asked if I'd been drinking and I could truthfully say "No", and was given a warning. But if I'd been asked if I'd taken any drugs then I would've had to say "yes" and where would that have gone???.

It would be devastating to me if I was unable to drive for fear of being pulled over and prosecuted for taking my prescribed meds. So until the actual testing process becomes clearer I would welcome having some extra safeguards in place and I have signed the petition.

I feel reassured that the NRAS are looking into this issue on my behalf and welcome every reasonable opportunity to raise the profile of RA at government level

Sylvia xx

THanks Naomi - this RA has definitely made me more militant as I realise that people who make decisions for us don't always understand the full picture. I had no idea at all of the things that bother people with disability or limited function until I found myself in that position, and there are times when we need to speak up for the "moderate viewpoint" just so it isn't forgotten or overlooked.