A drug-driving campaign has been launched by the Department for Transport after one in ten young male motorists admit to getting behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs. What are the insurance implications for anyone who is prosecuted?

Transport secretary Andrew Adonis said police can spot who is on drugs while driving because their eyes give it away.

Penalties for getting behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs are the same as for drunk-driving, which is a practice that is just as dangerous.

"Government campaigns over the past 40 years have succeeded in making drink-driving socially unacceptable and cutting the number of people killed in drink-drive accidents by nearly three-quarters," he stated.

The £2.3 million campaign is hoped to reduce the one in five drivers who are killed in road accidents who could have had an impairing drug in their system.

A recent survey by RAC found that 29 per cent of 25-34-year-olds have been in a car where they believed the driver was under the influence of drugs. 

The effects of being convicted of driving whilst under the influence of drugs on an individual’s insurance vary quite markedly from insurer to insurer and it is important to be aware of this. The same can also be said of drink driving. 

In the event of an accident arising where the driver tests positive for drugs, some insurers may exclude the own damage element and just pay the third party claim. They may then seek to recover their outlay from the drug driving convicted  policyholder. Others may deal with both the own damage and third party claims. Policy wordings do vary considerably and the “cheaper” end of the insurance market will be more onerous in their terms and conditions. 

A conviction for drug driving can also seriously affect a person’s ability to obtain insurance in the future. Some insurers will provide cover but increase the premium and impose a higher excess (for up to five years from the conviction).  Many others will refuse to provide any cover whatsoever for drivers with convictions. 

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