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Study highlights drug driving problem

About 6% of motorists in Scotland have admitted driving under the influence of drugs, a Scottish Executive study says - but the report's authors fear the true figure could be nearer 11%.

The survey was carried out by Mori Scotland, the centre for drugs misuse research at Glasgow University and Napier University's transport research institute. Researchers questioned 1,031 drivers aged between 17 and 39 years.

The results showed a drop in admitted levels of drug driving from five years ago. In 2000, 10% of people said they had driven after taking drugs, with 5% admitting to doing so in the previous 12 months.

The 2005 survey found that 47% of drug drivers did not think drugs had an impact on their driving, with 9% claiming it made their driving better.

The study's authors called for anti-drug driving campaigns to be targeted at single men - the group most likely to drive while under the influence of illegal substances.

For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5214302.stm

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