Are we losing the plot?

I've no doubt that this will be touched on elsewhere today but the following caught my eye whilst surveying the online newspapers, its from the Daily Mirror:

"One in five motorists has driven after taking illegal drugs and four in ten think their driving is either unaffected or even improved after indulging, a survey showed on Wednesday.

"Brits are some of the worst drug driving offenders in Europe, and drug driving could become as serious a problem in the UK as drink driving," said Dr Rob Tunbridge, a drug impairment expert and consultant to insurer MORE TH>N which carried out the study.

"18 percent of drivers killed in road accidents in this country have traces of illicit drugs in their bodies," he said in a statement.

The poll conducted via myvillage.co.uk of 1,072 people found 10 percent of drug drivers admitted they offended because they thought they could get away with it. One third (32 percent) said they would be deterred if the police did more checks. The insurance group called for the rapid introduction of roadside drugs screening devices similar to those being used in countries like Germany, Switzerland and Australia."

Now I'm as liberal as the next man who knits his own yoghurt and hugs his favourite tree in the belief that it means West Ham will win but 1 in 5! It's not just illegal drugs that are the problem, prescribed drugs are just as dangerous. One of my brothers-in-law has just been prescribed morphine for an injured back and he's a lorry driver, so if you spot a removal lorry at the side of the road with a dozy looking driver singing the words to the Rolling Stones back catalogue don't worry it's Pete and his doctor gave him the drugs.

I know it's an administrative nightmare but random drug tests together with compulsory eyesight tests every five years must be introduced. We have to get away from this quaint notion that owning a car is a right we can expect without question from 17 until death.