Why is Drugged Driving Hazardous?
Drugs acting on the brain can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time, and other faculties required for safe driving. The effects of specific drugs of abuse differ depending on their mechanisms of action, the amount consumed, the history of the user, and other factors.
Marijuana
THC affects areas of the brain that control the body’s movements, balance, coordination, memory, and judgment, as well as sensations. Because these effects are multifaceted, more research is required to understand marijuana’s impact on the ability of drivers to react to complex and unpredictable situations. However, we do know that:
- A meta-analysis of approximately 60 experimental studies, including laboratory, driving simulator, and on-road experiments, found that behavioral and cognitive skills related to driving performance were impaired in a dose-dependent fashion with increasing THC blood levels.
- Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana can negatively affect a driver’s attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences.
- A study of over 3000 fatally-injured drivers in Australia showed that when marijuana was present in the blood of the driver they were much more likely to be at fault for the accident. And the higher the THC concentration, the more likely they were to be culpable.
- Research shows that impairment increases significantly when marijuana use is combined with alcohol. Studies have found that many drivers who test positive for alcohol also test positive for THC, making it clear that drinking and drugged driving are often linked behaviors.
Other Drugs
- Prescription drugs: Many medications (e.g., benzodiazepines and opiate analgesics) act on systems in the brain that could impair driving ability. In fact, many prescription drugs come with warnings against the operation of machinery—including motor vehicles—for a specified period of time after use. When prescription drugs are taken without medical supervision (i.e., when abused), impaired driving and other harmful reactions can also result.
In short, drugged driving is a dangerous activity that puts us all at risk.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for your very informative article. There is much written about drinking and driving and not nearly enough about drug use and driving. It really needs to be more widely discussed to keep the public aware that driving under the influence includes driving while smoking pot as well as driving when taking many prescription medications. Reaction time is a huge factor to be considered in regards to safe driving. It is hard enough to stay accident free without adding impairment to the equation.
Thanks for such a nice information. Driving after smoking marijuana or some other drugs is very much dangerous because these addictions directly affects your brain and it disturbs your control which is very much dangerous.
There is much written about drinking and driving and not nearly enough about drug use and driving. It really needs to be more widely discussed to keep the public aware that driving under the influence includes driving while smoking pot as well as driving when taking many prescription medications. Reaction time is a huge factor to be considered in regards to safe driving.
Drink and drug driving
Great posts, I especially found it useful where you stated… “Studies have found that many drivers who test positive for alcohol also test positive for THC, making it clear that drinking and drugged driving are often linked behaviors.”
A driver must be medically fit to drive and understand that some medicines may render the driver unsafe to drive. It is also a traffic offence to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A driver must not drive if under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescribed drugs that may affect His/Her ability to drive safely.
Attitude is a key factor in positive driving and taking responsibility for own fitness to drive and not driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs is a positive and good attitude to have.