The Dangers Of Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs

As with drinking and driving drug driving is also killing people.Drug Driving as a killer. Use of illegal drugs when driving is a growing problem.

Around 18 percent of people killed in road accidents have traces of illegal drugs in their blood, a six-fold increase since the mid 1980s.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a major 2.3 million pounds campaign that aims to make driving under the influence of drugs as as socially unacceptable as drink driving.

The core of the campaign is a TV advert which warns motorists that police can spot the signs when a driver is under the influence of illegal drugs. The TV advert is backed by information delivered via print and online means, detailing the impact of certain legal drugs as well as illegal ones.

The TV advert which uses the slogan "Your eyes will give you away," shows a car full of young people with their eyes enlarged.

A Department For Transport spokeswoman said that earlier drug-driving campaigns were aimed at particular groups such as music festival attendees. "We hope this will create a national debate around drug-driving because it's something that maybe people aren't aware of," she said.

Different drugs affect driving ability in different ways. The print and online campaigns explain how drugs affect drivers. For example, a driver under the influence of cocaine is over-confident and will drive erratically, tending to perform high risk manoeuvres at speed.

Cannabis users, on the other hand, drive more slowly and take extra time to react and make decisions.

Many drivers think that, given there is no simple biological drugs test in place (on a par with the breath test for alcohol), convictions for drug driving are unlikely. However, police may give a roadside Field Impairment Assessment (FIA) instead. They give drivers a series of tasks which are simple to complete if they not affected by any substance, but difficult if they are.

The police also have a new hand-held device called 'the drugalyser' which works similar to a breathalyser.
Officers who see signs of drug abuse can take a suspect to a police station and perform a blood test to confirm it.

Some people are not even aware of the penalties for drug driving. Penalties for drug driving are the same as for drink driving. Those convicted will receive a minimum 12-month driving ban whatever the illegal substance may be. Drivers sometimes do not realise that 'one spliff' can impair their judgement so much.

The offence is also a criminal offence so you will also have a criminal record to boot which in a lot of cases could mean you loosing your job.

In addition you may also end up with a fine of 5 thousand pounds.

The conviction is also recorded on your driving licence for 11 years.

A driver convicted of causing death by dangerous driving will receive a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

When travelling abroad a lot of countries will not even let you enter the country if you have a drug-related conviction. The USA and Australia are among many countries that take a tough stance against drugs.

When you do eventually manage to get your license back your insurance costs will increase massively.