Drug Driving Limits
Below you will find a list of the specified controlled drugs and the corresponding maximum legal limits for each drug as laid out in the statutory instruments entitled The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 [1] and The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 [2].
It is a criminal offence to drive, attempt to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place with a specified controlled drug in a persons body, while the proportion of that specified controlled drug exceeds the maximum legal specified limit for that particular drug as outlined below.
Legislation currently sets limits for seventeen specified controlled drugs which include eight drugs that are mostly associated with illegal use and eight drugs that are mostly associated with medical use and amphetamines.
Illegal Drugs (Specified Legal Limits)
The government have taken a zero tolerance approach when setting the maximum legal limits of eight drugs that are mostly associated with illegal use. These limits are set at low levels.
| Specified 'illegal' Drug (accidental exposure - zero tolerance approach) | Limit in Blood |
| benzoylecgonine | 50µg/L |
| cocaine | 10µg/L |
| delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (cannabis) | 2µg/L |
| ketamine | 20µg/L |
| lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) | 1µg/L |
| methylamphetamine (crystal meth) | 10µg/L |
| MDMA (ecstasy) | 10µg/L |
| 6-monoacetylmorphine (heroin) | 5µg/L |
Medicinal Drugs (Specified Legal Limits)
The government have taken a risk based approach when setting the maximum legal limits of eight drugs that are mostly associated with medical use.
| Specified 'medical' Drug (risk based approach) | Limit in Blood |
| clonazepam | 50µg/L |
| diazepam (valium) | 550µg/L |
| flunitrazepam | 300µg/L |
| lorazepam | 100µg/L |
| methadone | 500µg/L |
| morphine | 80µg/L |
| oxazepam | 300µg/L |
| temazepam | 1,000µg/L |
| Specified 'illegal or prescribed' Drug (separate approach to balance risk) | Limit in Blood |
| Amphetamine (e.g. dexamphetamine or selegiline) | 250µg/L |
Reference:
[1] Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014[2] The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015