Family’s call for zero tolerance on drug drivers

Lillian Groves was aged 14 when she was knocked down in 2010 outside her home in New Addington, Croydon, south London. The driver went on to serve just four months in jail.

Her mother Natasha said yesterday there should be “no exceptions” in applying new measures announced by the Government to tackle drug driving.

“Make it zero tolerance and that way everybody knows where they stand,” she told BBC Breakfast, adding that other families had come forward to back their campaign.

“You think you are on your own but obviously there is a far wider problem, it is not just us out there on our own,” she said. “It happens all the time.”

Her family have campaigned for a “Lillian’s law” including tougher sentencing for drug drivers and a package of measures to ensure the offence is taken as seriously as drink-driving.

Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed the Government will outlaw drug driving and has praised the teenager’s family for their “brave” campaign.

Motorists under the influence of illegal substances can only currently be prosecuted for being behind the wheel if police can prove their driving has been impaired.

Mr Cameron said: “We want to do for drug-driving what drink- driving laws have done for driving under the influence of alcohol. That’s why we’re doing what we can to get drugalysers rolled out more quickly. And this week we’ll publish a new drug-driving offence so that driving under the influence of drugs itself is a crime, just like it is for drink-driving.

“Lillian Groves’s family should be congratulated for their brave campaign. I hope now that something good can come out of their tragic loss.”

Under the crackdown, proposed as part of a wider Crime, Communications and Court Bill in the Coalition’s new legislative programme, drug driving will become a specific offence with offenders facing up to six months in jail.