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Why does the UK have an above-zero drug-driving limit?

Journalist: Jon Brady, Daily Mail

ended 13. February 2025

Love Island star Scotty T has been handed a driving ban after he was found to have exceeded drug driving limits. As we at MailOnline reported yesterday, he had 32 µg of cocaine and 800 µg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine byproduct, in his blood when stopped by police - the limits are 10µg and 50µg respectively.

This prompted questions from our readers on why there are even drug-driving limits above zero - can you tell me why, for an explainer on drug-driving laws?

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Kundan Bhaduri
Entrepreneur, Investor and Landlord at The Kushman Group
Another day, another reality star caught flouting the law—Scotty T, who has been handed a driving ban after being found with cocaine and its byproducts in his system, far exceeding legal limits. While some have questioned why there’s any drug-driving limit above zero, the law recognises that tiny, non-impairing traces can remain in the body long after use. This prevents innocent drivers from being penalised for past, legally irrelevant exposure. However, in Scotty T’s case, the levels detected were hardly a close call. He was well over the limit, making the ban entirely justified. Drug-driving laws, much like alcohol limits, exist to distinguish between harmless residual traces and active impairment. Police use scientific thresholds to ensure that enforcement is targeted at those genuinely unfit to drive. The limits are set with road safety in mind, not to accommodate reckless behaviour.