Drug driving takes centre stage at major national conference in Durham

Road safety experts and policy leaders across the UK joined Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen for a high-profile national summit examining drug driving, in partnership with workplace substance management organisation, TOX247.

The event brought together those at the fore front of improving safety on the UK’s roads with industry experts, policy leaders and business representatives with the victims’ perspective ‘front and centre’ of the discussions.

It provided a platform to scrutinise current challenges in drug testing, enforcement and legislation, and shined the spotlight on the PCC’s relentless campaign to expand workplace drug and alcohol testing across the country to achieve the cultural shift needed to save lives.

Durham Constabulary’s Operation Spotlight in July 2025 recorded substantial numbers of drug driving offences,with 60% of those tested returning positive (2,294 of 3,844 drug wipes).

The conference came as new data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the North East still has the highest rates of deaths relating to drug poisoning and drug misuse in England and Wales.

The region reported 167.6 drug poisoning deaths per million people and 107.1 per million drug misuse deaths in 2024. Nationally, 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning (93.9 deaths per million people) – higher than in 2023 which saw 5,448 deaths registered. The mortality rate for deaths relating to drug poisoning has risen every year since 2012.

The summit was supported by Durham-based Katem Logistics Ltd and Stillers Warehousing and Distribution Ltd, both of which are proactively taking steps to manage substance misuse in their workforces and already test all staff – from drivers through to directors – for the presence of alcohol or drugs in their systems.

Katem is also supporting the PCC by using its fleet to market road safety messaging to drivers including the ‘Life is Precious’ campaign.

The event was attended by national bodies such as the Department for Transport and also hosted speakers from TOX247 and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

Commander Kyle Gordon, Head of Op Topaz, said; “It was great to be in attendance and to able to represent the National Police Chiefs’ Council Roads Policing Portfolio, working with the Police and Crime Commissioner, partners, industry and other agencies in exploring the challenges behind this issue.  

“We know all-too-well that drug driving wrecks lives, and we see the devastation and heartbreak left behind in families when selfish and irresponsible motorists put their own wants above the safety of others every single day.  Summits like the one hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen bring together in one place, the expertise we need to surface the challenges and tackle this issue on our roads from a range of angles.”

Trevor Hall, CEO at TOX247, said; “Workplace substance management is not healthcare and is not optional. It is mandatory within law, corporate governance, insurance law and toxicological evidence.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, who is Joint Portfolio Lead for Roads Policing on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “The summit was a resounding success, drawing together the decision-makers and industry experts needed to drive and influence widespread change.  

“But this event was just the start, and already we are advancing at pace with plans to secure wider drug and alcohol testing within workplaces nationally – especially those who manage fleets and a large workforce of drivers.

“By implementing strong and comprehensive policies, employers not only make our communities and roads safer, but also fulfil their social and ethical responsibilities and provide more effective support for the health and well being of their employees – this is what we want to get across.

“Every year, lives are tragically lost on our roads because of drug and alcohol impairment – many of these individuals have no prior involvement with the criminal justice system. We need to urgently rethink our approach and increase the stakes for those who cross the line, making the prospect of losing jobs, relationships and income much more likely. Only then will we make drivers think twice.

“There is still a long way to go before drug driving becomes the social taboo that drink driving now is and it’s up to the whole of society to play its part.”

Safer Roads is a priority in the PCC’s new Police, Crime and Justice Plan.

The Commissioner has outlined a series of national and local commitments to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the roads and achieve vision zero - every day without a road death.

These include commissioning workplace drug and alcohol testing, lobbying or a reduction in the drink drive limit to bring England in line with Scotland and most of the rest of the world and increasing capacity for more drug driving enforcement and the availability of test equipment.

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