As Germany legalises cannabis, DVR warns on drug-driving enforcement

ETSC’s German member organisation DVR has written to the federal transport minister warning of the need to tighten enforcement of drug-driving in light of the legalisation of cannabis.

The legal limit is expected to be set by 31 March 2024 with the law coming into force on 1 April 2024. The law currently does not differentiate between relative and absolute unfitness to drive. DVR is concerned that drivers caught driving under the influence of cannabis will only be required to subject themselves to a fitness to drive assessment in the case of ‘repeat offences’.  DVR says that the rules should be similar to those for alcohol, where any test above a certain limit value automatically triggers the need for a fitness-to-drive test.  

The organisation says that, as the chances of being checked for drug driving are already limited, due to limited enforcement, allowing a driver to commit more than one offence before facing the medical assessment is giving ‘carte blanche’ to intoxicated drivers.  

The strongly-worded letter also says it is ‘incomprehensible’ that the cannabis law does not set a zero-tolerance limit for cannabis for novice drivers or drivers transporting dangerous goods.  

DVR also says the government needs to develop a prevention campaign to warn about the effects of cannabis consumption on driving.