Mobile Evidential Drug Testing Instrument (MEDTI) Demonstrator
The DfT are seeking innovations to develop roadside evidential drug testing capability to enable effective enforcement of drug driving offending.
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Introduction:
To enable more effective enforcement of drug driving offending, the Department of Transport is seeking innovative ideas to explore the development of world-leading roadside evidential drug testing capability.
The competition is funded by Department for Transport with the support of the Home Office and police as we look to work across Government to tackle this problem.
Government data shows that the gap between harm caused by drink driving and harm caused by drug driving is narrowing, with some police forces now arresting more drug drivers than drink drivers.
This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking proposals that enhance the roadside testing of suspected ‘drug drivers’. Currently drivers suspected of being over the specified limit for specified ‘drugs’ [see below] can be subject to a roadside screening test which, following a positive indication, requires the subject to be taken to a police station where an evidential blood sample can be taken. The sample is then sent to an approved laboratory for forensic analysis. It can take many months to subsequently determine if a prosecution should be launched. The offence is contrary to Section 5A Road Traffic Act 1988.
The competition aims to develop ideas that could create a roadside forensic test capable of being administered at the time the driver is stopped and then generating a robust indication that meets UK court standards. Ideally a result would be obtained at the roadside within 10 minutes however the competition would also welcome the submission of ideas that that could generate similar swift analysis from a device that is based at a police station, circumventing the need to take an evidential blood sample that requires sending the sample away for analysis. This will speed up processing of suspects, enabling police to deal with offenders at pace and freeing up officers to return to duty more quickly. Victims injured by drug drivers will also be made aware of charging decisions more quickly.
In 2020 between 200 and 240 people were killed in collisions in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, with a central estimate of 220 deaths. This is 15% of all fatalities. In the same year there were 175 people killed in reported road accidents where at least one deceased driver had an impairment drug detected (to note this may not be over the proscribed limit). This is 12% of all fatalities.
This competition supports the Government’s intent to ensure the criminal justice system is equipped with tools suitable to tackle this rising threat to public safety through rapidly capturing the evidence required to ensure keep the roads and our communities safe.
Competition key information
Submission deadline
12:00 Midday (BST) on Tuesday 16 April 2024
Where do I submit my proposal?
Via the DASA Online Submission Service for which you will require an account. Only proposals submitted through the DASA Online Submission Service will be accepted.
Total funding available
The total possible funding available for Phase 1 of this competition is £1 million (excluding VAT).
We expect to fund a number of proposals of up to £350,000 (Exc. VAT) each in value. Contracts will only be awarded for projects that are shown to complete by 28 February 2025 and have a maximum project duration time of 6 months (although proposals of shorter duration will also be accepted). We anticipate contracting to start from approximately July 2024.
The evaluation process will enable consideration to be given to the feasibility of any idea and how best to develop commercially.
Updates to this page
Published 20 February 2024Last updated 16 April 2024 + show all updates
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Uploaded a new copy of the Terms and Conditions document to correct a formatting issue. There were not any changes made to any of the terms.
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Added additional FAQ to explain licences for ‘drugs’ and testing equipment that could be required for some companies. Included link to new FAQ under competition scope within the competition document
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Frequently asked questions attachment added as guidance added to help with proposal submission.
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Competition Document now shows "very low" cyber risk level (section 11). Wording slightly updated to show innovators can contact DASA or their Innovation Partner (section 8).
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Competition Document now shows updated cyber risk assessment level. Please ensure that you use the following details DASA Risk Assessment RAR-134036742 and answer questions for risk level “Very Low”.
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Presentation slides from dial-in session held on 5th March 2024 now available to view.
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First published.