Offence
Drive a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs
How often this offence appears in the published court listings for England and Wales, which courts list it most and where to read the official sentencing guideline.
- Hearings listed
- 545
- Upcoming hearings
- 12
- Next listed date
- Mon, 26 October 2026
- Courts listing it
- 120
- Heard in
- Magistrates' Court (545)
- Sentencing guideline
- Unfit through drink or drugs (drive/ attempt to drive) (Revised 2017)
- Official offence code
- RT88340
- The law
- Contrary to section 4(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
- Can lead to prison
- Yes
Courts that list it most
- Croydon Magistrates' Court (21 hearings)
- Birmingham Magistrates' Court (16 hearings)
- Thames Magistrates' Court (15 hearings)
- Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court (13 hearings)
- Medway (Chatham) Magistrates' Court (13 hearings)
- Bristol Magistrates' Court (12 hearings)
- Folkestone Magistrates' Court (11 hearings)
- Leeds District Magistrates' Court (11 hearings)
- Westminster Magistrates' Court (10 hearings)
- Barkingside Magistrates' Court (9 hearings)
- Basildon Magistrates' Court (9 hearings)
- Bromley Magistrates' Court (9 hearings)
- Colchester Magistrates' Court (9 hearings)
- Staines Magistrates' Court (9 hearings)
- Chelmsford Magistrates' Court (8 hearings)
Related offences
- In charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drugs
- Drive whilst unfit through drink
- In charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drink
- Drive on a road a motor vehicle whilst not wearing a seat belt
- Use a motor vehicle on a road when there was insufficient transmission of light through the vehicle glass
- Drive motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit
- Drive motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit
- Drive a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence - endorsable offence