Analysis shows drug driving offences overtake drinking offences

New analysis of DVLA statistics shows that drug driving endorsements (DG10) added to UK driving licences rose to 30,707 in 2025—a 28% increase since 2022. For the first time, drug driving endorsements have surpassed traditional drink driving convictions (DR10), which fell to 29,769 over the same period.

The data reveals that younger drivers are disproportionately affected, with motorists aged 17–24 accounting for 18% of all drug driving endorsements despite making up only 6% of licence holders. More than 1,100 drivers aged 17-19 received a drug driving endorsement, compared with 464 drivers aged 60 and over.

Previous IAM RoadSmart research found that around half of roadside drug tests carried out by police returned a positive result, compared with around 16% of roadside drink drive tests. Separate government data has also shown that 44% of drug driving offences are committed by repeat offenders.

Police forces now routinely use roadside saliva tests to detect cannabis and cocaine, while Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Thames Valley Police began trialling a roadside nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) breathalyser earlier this year.

IAM RoadSmart is calling for further action to tackle the issue, including introducing a national rehabilitation scheme for convicted drug drivers, similar to the existing drink drive rehabilitation programme. It is also urging the Government to consider giving police powers to suspend licences immediately following a failed roadside drug test.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and external communications at IAM RoadSmart, said: “It’s becoming clear that the UK is mired in a drug driving epidemic, to the point where it may now be more of a threat on our streets than drink driving.”

“Educating people about the misconceptions of the impacts that drugs have on a person’s ability to drive is a start, but police should be given powers to suspend licences at the roadside for failing a drug swab test. In addition, it’s vital that we establish a national drug drive rehabilitation programme.”

Drug driving is illegal where a driver is impaired by legal or illegal drugs, or exceeds the specified legal limits for certain controlled drugs. Convictions can result in a minimum 12-month driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to six months’ imprisonment and a criminal record.