It has been reported today that Nottinghamshire has been involved in a trial for the government whereby specialised traffic courts have been instigated in an effort to fast track the court system dealing with motoring offences such as speeding and no insurance.

Since May 2012, in Nottinghamshire, most routine motoring offences have been scheduled to be heard at the Mansfield Magistrates Court, freeing up valuable court time for more serious matters at the Nottingham and Worksop Magistrates’ Courts. Initially on Mondays, but now also on Tuesdays, Mansfield has operated courts devoted to dealing with road traffic law – the case load of 160 or so cases now being split to around 80 cases a day! Ironically, this scheme came about hot on the heels of the closure of the Newark and Retford Magistrates’ Courts in Notts on ‘cost saving’ grounds. Click here to read more »

Hot on the heels of the new drug driving offence being written into law comes the announcement that drink driving rules have been tightened up.

From next month, the most dangerous drink drivers, including those that have a drink problem and persistently break the law by getting behind the wheel, will have to pass a medical before being allowed. Click here to read more »

A new offence of drug driving became law last week after the Crime and Courts Bill received its Royal Assent.

It means that those found guilty of the offence can receive a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000, with a 12-month automatic driving ban.

Previously, in order to prove impairment, drivers had to go through a series of outdated roadside tasks, such as balance and coordination tests.

A failure led to a visit to the police station and a blood sample taken by a doctor was then sent off to a lab for analysis. Click here to read more »

A report into drug driving by a commissioned panel of medical experts has been heralded as “the biggest step forward” in the debate about how to deal with the problem.

But not everyone agrees with the findings. Click here to read more »

Almost exactly a year ago we warned readers in advance that they would soon need to carry breathalysers in their vehicle when travelling through France, or else face fines.

Then in October the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said that although the law had been rolled out, the fines that were due to begin the following month were delayed until March. Click here to read more »

It’s been a long time coming, but a drug driving testing kit has become the first to receive Home Office approval, and is soon to feature at a police station near you.

Draeger Safety UK’s Dräger DrugTest 5000 can detect cannabis from a mouth swab and removes the need to call out a doctor before taking a blood sample. Click here to read more »