Drugalyser targets drivers

The Home Office has unveiled new drug-testing systems as the first examples of an initiative to design technology that reflects society’s ever-changing patterns of offending.

The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB), which has opened its doors to the media for the first time, is developing a handheld driver-impairment device and a roadside screening system to detect drug use.

Breathalysers are not equipped to detect the presence of drugs, which means police must currently conduct manual tests to assess a driver’s capacity, such as asking them to walk in a straight line.

The HOSDB has unveiled a new device similar to a gaming console designed to assess a driver’s speed of reaction, accuracy and dexterity. The device will be loaded with a number of tests which will take approximately 12 minutes to complete. Home Office technologists are also developing a ‘drugalyser’ roadside screening system which will reveal if there are any drugs present in the body — and even exactly which type.