A TOUGH new law on drug-driving is to come into force next month – but Lancashire Police will continue to use current legislation.

The new rules, described as the “biggest shake-up of drug-driving laws for 85 years”, will be rolled out on Monday, placing legal limits on eight medicinal drugs.

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They are clonazepam, diazepam, flunitrazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepan, methadone and morphine.

The law will make it a criminal offence to drive with drugs in your body in England and Wales, removing the need to prove impairment and making it much easier to prosecute drug-drivers, a road safety charity said.

But a spokesman for Lancashire Police said officers’ “primary resource” would still be current legislation.

He said: “We are aware of the new legislation and we welcome it as a new tool in our continuing efforts to target those people who get behind the wheel when not fit to drive through drink or drugs.

“Having said that, the existing legislation already covers those who are impaired in their driving regardless of the substance so that is likely to remain our primary tool for enforcement.”

The new law will be enforced nationally with the aid of roadside screening devices. Those found guilty will face a maximum six month jail sentence, £5,000 fine, and automatic 12-month driving ban.

Bosses at the road safety charity Brake said the equivalent of one million drivers had admitted to having driven while on drugs in the past year.

As well as tackling drivers on illegal drugs, the law clarifies the position for drivers using medication, with set limits for a number of prescribed drugs that can affect driving. Drivers who are taking medication in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional will not be at risk of police arrest.

Julie Townsend of safety organisation Brake, said: “Drug driving wrecks lives, and it is a crime for which there is no excuse.” We believe the government is doing the right thing by taking a zero tolerance approach. We hope this will make it clear that driving on any amount of drugs won’t be tolerated.

“Anyone tempted to drive on drugs should be in absolutely no doubt of the penalties they face for endangering people’s lives and that it simply isn’t worth the risk.”