Police districts are seeing a rise in the number of charges for drug driving this year: "It is worrying"

4,709 charges for drug driving have been made so far this year. Last year, that number stood at 4,601 in the same period, according to figures from the National Police, which DR has obtained access to.

It is stupid to take drugs, but even stupider to take drugs and then get behind the wheel and drive out into traffic.

But that still doesn't stop some individuals from doing it. Several police districts are experiencing an increase this year in the number of charges against people driving with drugs in their blood, compared to the same period last year.

In the period from January 1 this year to July 20 inclusive, the country's police districts have so far charged 4,709 people with drug driving, according to figures from the National Police, which DR News has obtained access to. Last year, in the same period, that number was 4,601.

On Funen, the number of motorists caught with drugs in their blood has increased by 30 percent compared to the same period last year – making it one of the police districts in the country that has seen the largest increase.

And that really frustrates Sten Sørensen, deputy police inspector at Funen Police.

- If you can really think of taking drugs and driving at the same time, then you are not good for traffic safety and you put all of us at risk. So it is of course concerning that the number for drug driving in particular has increased so dramatically on Funen from last year to now.

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Easier to test for drugs

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Last year, in the period up to July 20, 357 people in the Funen police district were caught with drugs in their blood. This year – in the same period – the number was 465. One explanation could be that the police have obtained new testing tools, says Sten Sørensen.

- Before, it was a bit of a larger machine that was in some patrol cars. But now we have gotten these small disposable testers that we use, and that all officers can actually carry in their pocket. That probably means that more people are being tested than before, explains the deputy police inspector at Funen Police.

In addition to the increase in the number of charges for drug driving at Funen Police, the same picture is seen in the police districts of South and South Jutland, South Zealand and Lolland-Falster, North Zealand, Copenhagen's West End, Copenhagen, and Bornholm.

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Too many drug-impaired motorists

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The situation is different in the remaining police districts, which are experiencing a decrease compared to figures for the same period last year.

But generally, there are still far too many people getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. That is the view of Karina Petersen, deputy director of the Danish Road Safety Council.

- In our view, every single motorist driving in traffic under the influence of drugs is one too many. And it is a problem that so many people still do it, she says.

The Danish Road Safety Council therefore also puts a lot of effort into telling, among others, young people that driving under the influence of drugs is not without risk.

- We have a zero-tolerance policy, and that means that when a young person is stopped by the police and charged, it can have some very serious consequences for that person's life. You face a large fine, but you can also risk losing your driver's license and job, or dropping out of your education, says the deputy director.

The figures depend partly on testing methods and how often testing is done. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that more people are driving under the influence of drugs in traffic, but only that the number of charges in several police districts, as well as nationally, has increased.

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