If you’re driving whilst under the influence of drugs you are a risk to yourself and others on the roads. The side effects of drugs, both illicit and prescription, can impair your ability to drive safely.
Roadside drug testing targets illicit drug use, however it’s worth remembering that prescription drugs can impact your driving too. If you're on medication and not sure whether your driving will be affected, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
While the number of people who have died drink driving has dropped there has been an increase in the number of drivers dying with drugs in their system.
How drugs affect driving
There are different ways that drugs will affect your driving ability, and if you combine drugs these affects can become even more dangerous.
- Cannabis - can slow down a person's reaction time, distort perception of speed and distance and reduce concentration and coordination when driving.
- Heroin - users usually will be drowsy for several hours; mental function is clouded; heart function slows; and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be life-threatening. Spatial awareness and cognitive impairment can impact the driver’s ability to perform the complex task of driving.
- Methamphetamine (ICE), ecstasy, cocaine - can lead to over-confidence, rash decision making and risk taking. Insomnia cause by ICE and cocaine use can affect a driver's reflex and concentration.
- Hallucinogens - affect hearing and sight as well as the perception of time, distance and movement, and they can make a person sense things that don't exist.