The Road Safety Trust responds to new figures showing drug driving endorsements have overtaken drink driving endorsements
The Road Safety Trust has called for greater awareness and action on drug driving after new figures showed that drug driving endorsements have overtaken drink driving endorsements for the first time.
DVLA data obtained and analysed by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart shows that the number of drug driving endorsements added to individual licences in 2025 stood at 30,707 – a 28% increase on the 23,981 offences from 2022.
By comparison, the figures for drink driving offences in 2025 stood at 29,769 licence endorsements, which is a 17% reduction on the 35,976 recorded in 2022.
The figures also suggest young drivers aged 17-24, despite only making up around 6% of all licence holders, received 18% of all drug driving licence endorsements in 2025, showing the scale of the problem among new drivers.
The Road Safety Trust has previously warned about the risks of drug driving and the need for sustained action to improve understanding, prevention and enforcement. Through its Large Grants programme, the Trust is investing in research and interventions to help address drink and drug impaired driving and strengthen the evidence base for action.
Paul Steinberg, Deputy CEO of The Road Safety Trust, said: “Public understanding of drug driving risks remains dangerously low. Many drivers still do not recognise that illegal substances, and even some prescription medications, can seriously impair their ability to drive.
“We know change is possible. Decades of consistent education transformed attitudes towards drink driving, and the same sustained effort is now needed on drug driving, combining clear public messaging, targeted interventions and effective enforcement.
“That is exactly why The Road Safety Trust is focusing our 2026 Large Grants programme on drug and drink impaired driving. We recognise the need for stronger evidence and more effective interventions, and are investing significantly this year to reduce this type of risky offending and improve road safety outcomes.”
9 July 2026