CONGLETON Borough MP Ann Winterton has asked Parliament to give the police power to clamp down on people who drive whilst under the influence of drugs.
In the House of Commons last week, Mrs Winterton launched an appeal to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
She said: "The Minister will be aware of the growing numbers of fatal accidents blamed on drivers who have taken a cocktail of hard drugs.
"Does he believe the police should be given the same powers to tackle drug driving as they have to deal with drink driving?"
Chris Mullin, of the DETR, replied: "It is already an offence to drive while unfit through medicinal or illicit drugs of any kind.
"The problem is that we have to develop the technology to enable the misuse of drugs to be detected.
"We shall not shrink from legislating at that point, but we must develop the technology first."
Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article