Drug-drive repeat offending nearly five times more common than drink-driving

Repeat offending of drug-driving is almost five times more common than for being drunk behind the wheel, an investigation has found.

A total of 12,391 British drivers were caught drug-driving at least three times in the 11 years to July 20 2025, official figures obtained by the RAC in response to a freedom of information request revealed.

That is compared with 2,553 who received that many drink-drive convictions over the same period.

The RAC said the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) statistics demonstrate the need for a national rehabilitation scheme for drug-driving to tackle this “under-the-radar issue”, as is in place for drink-driving.

The drug-drive figure is based on the number of DG10 endorsements on driving records on July 20 last year.

These are handed out to people convicted of driving or attempting to drive with a level of a controlled drug above the legal limit.

One driver had accumulated 18 separate DG10 endorsements, while another had 17. Some 56 had at least 10.

People caught drug-driving in Britain face a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.

Published: 19/05/2026 by Radio NewsHub