Current Campaign

The aim of the campaign is to advise everyone that drugs driving is an emerging problem in Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will now be actively carrying out Field Impairment Tests on drivers whom they suspect are driving under the influence of drugs and, if convicted, they will be fined, disqualified from driving or imprisoned. The campaign message is simple YOU’LL GET SMASHED IF YOU DRIVE ON DRUGS. The cost of producing the advertisement was approximately £61,439.

This campaign is based on the fact that almost a quarter of all dead drivers and riders analysed in the last three years in Northern Ireland had drugs in their bodies - an increase of 21% since 1999. Drugs driving is widespread throughout Northern Ireland.

Illegal drugs and prescription drugs can impair judgement, driving and ultimately kill. Whilst the problems caused by drink drivers are well known, the battle against those who are unfit through other drugs is really just beginning. This campaign is the first step in addressing the emerging problem of driving while unfit due to drugs.

At the launch of the campaign a spokesperson for the PSNI announced that they now have officers across NI trained in new detection techniques. For those tempted to take impairing drugs and drive, the Police Service is now better prepared than ever to detect them and put them before the courts.