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Driving whilst under the influence of drugs
The Police are now much better at recognising signs of drug use
in drivers. If you get caught while driving under the influence
of drugs, the penalties are severe. The police can test and will
prosecute. If convicted of drug driving offenses, you can face;
• A minimum of 1 year ban
• A fine of up to £5,000
• Up to 6 months in prison
As with drink driving, repeat offenders will be dealt with swiftly
and more severely. A repeat offender will face a much longer ban
from driving, if offense has resulted in a death this could mean
loosing your license permenantly. This will also result in a longer
prison sentence, which can be anything up to 10 years.
Driving under the influence of drugs - whether prescribed medication
or illegal substances - is just as dangerous as driving when drunk.
It's also against the law.
Drugs can affect your mind and body in a variety of ways that mean
you aren't able to drive safely. Not only that, the effects can
last for hours or even days.
The police can carry out roadside tests of impairment to help them
decide whether to arrest you if they think you are unfit to drive
through drugs. Their code of practice for testing for impairment
is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/orders.html.
A new website - www.drugdrive.com - has been set up to give 17-30
year olds information on how different drugs can impair their driving.
Cards promoting the website and the drug driving message were handed
out to 150,000 revellers at this summer's Glastonbury Festival.
Where thousnads of people drive home after a week of excess drinking
and possibly drug taking.
Different drugs will effect your driving in different ways. Some
will make you tired and unable to control a car, while others will
make you far too over confident. Many drugs stay in your body for
days and weeks afterwards. Driving home the day after taking drugs
is just as dangerous. The day after, your body will be confused,
dehydrated and fatigued. You may feel sick and suffer from dizziness
or tremors. Drug drivers can suffer from the following symptoms.
• Slower reaction times
You're unable to react to unexpected events on the road quickly,
appropriately or safely.
• Poor concentration
• Sleepiness/fatigue
• Confused thinking
• Distorted perception
You're unable to see, hear, smell or touch accurately, so you're
not able to accurately comprehend the meaning of road signs or take
notice of your surroundings.
• Over confidence, so you take unnecessary risks
• Impaired co-ordination
• Erratic behaviour
• Nausea
• Hallucinations
• Blurred vision/enlarged pupils
• Aggression
• Panic attacks and paranoia
• Tremors
• Dizziness
• Cramps
You're unable to safely control your car using your steering wheel,
so your car may wander across the road.
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