DRIVERS who get behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs should lose their licence whether unfit to drive or not, says Christchurch MP Chris Chope.

Currently the Crown Prosecution Service has to prove a drugged driver was unfit to drive before a ban is imposed.

But Mr Chope wants the law tightened to bring it into line with drink-driving.

It is part of a package of road safety improvements put forward by Conservative Shadow Transport Minister Mr Chope.

He also wants motorcyclists to be able to use bus lanes, an increase in lorry speeds on single carriageway roads, flashing rear lights to be made legal for bicycles and the use of mobile telephones made legal in stationary vehicles so that calls can be made while stuck in traffic jams.

Speaking on drug-driving, Mr Chope told the Commons there has been an almost five-fold increase in the percentage of drivers involved in fatal collisions testing positive.

He highlighted a recent incident in which a Bournemouth University student died after being involved in an accident in Ferndown.

The car driver had allegedly been taking amphetamines and fell asleep at the wheel, he said.

"A gap in the law has been highlighted by the soaring increase in the use of illegal drugs and the large number of people who drive with such drugs in their bodies," he said.

"Often the drugs are mixed with alcohol creating an even more dangerous condition in the driver."

Regarding motorcycles using bus lanes, Mr Chope said the Transport for London survey had concluded that where shared use was allowed there had been a 20 per cent reduction in accidents.

Asking for the maximum speeds for lorries to be increased from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageway roads, he cited the A31 west of Ferndown as an example of where drivers found it difficult to overtake.

The result is that "driver frustration is increasing with consequent danger".

He has won the support of the cycling watchdog Cyclists' Touring Club for his successful campaign to persuade the government to legalise flashing red rear lights for bicycles.

The amendment to the Road Safety Bill will be brought in during the summer. Currently cyclists must show a constant red rear light during the hours of darkness, whether or not they have a flashing or pulsating light.

First published: February 9