A NEW law to stop drug driving has seen two people arrested in Essex in its first week of use.

Both suspects were tested with new equipment introduced in the county to identify the presence of eight possible illegal drugs.

Since last Monday, March 2, limits to have set to certain drugs making it easier for police to target drug-drivers because they won’t need to prove the driver was impaired.

Drivers will be screened by giving a saliva swab to check for levels of eight illegal drugs and eight legally prescribed drugs.

Chief insp Nick Lee, from Essex Police’s roads policing team said: "We are already making use of this new legislation to take drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs off the roads and question them.

"Driving under the influence of drugs can affect your reaction times and awareness and makes you a potential threat to other road users and yourself.

"If we catch you and convict you then the very least you can expect is a criminal record but the risks you take by driving under the influence of drugs could potentially put your life or someone else’s in danger and our message is simple – don’t do it.”

Those guilty of drug driving face a minimum of one year driving ban, a fine up to £5,000, up to six months in prison and a criminal record.

The new rules run alongside the existing law, under which it is an offence to drive when impaired by any drug.

The illegal drugs which can be detected include cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin.

The banned prescription drugs include diazepam, morphine and methadone. The others are clonazepam, which is used to treat seizures or panic disorders, clonazepam to treat seizures or panic disorders, sedative flunitrazepam, epilepsy medication lorazepam, anxiety medication oxazepam, and temazepam to treat the affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause insomnia problems.

The regulations set low levels for the eight illegal drugs, with higher levels set for eight prescription drugs, including morphine and methadone.

Those using prescription drugs within recommended amounts will not be penalised.