Industry News from Yes Insurance

Police in Tameside are to carry out roadside drug tests in an attempt to make roads in the region safer, it has been reported.

According to the Tameside Advertiser, drivers will be pulled over under suspicion and asked to touch the tip of their nose with their eyes closed or walk in a straight line.

The news source adds that the crackdown comes as research shows one in four young motorists has got behind the wheel after taking drugs.

A conviction can compromise a car insurance policy for young people, as cover firms may view them as a risk on the roads.

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership, Josie Wride said that the crime is "as unacceptable as drink-driving".

She said: "It also carries the risk of serious penalties, including prison."

This comes as research from Kent county council shows that 18 per cent of driver and rider deaths involve drugs.

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