Driving high: A deadly problem on our roads
Last year alone, drug-driving was listed as a contributing factor in 25% of road fatalities in South Australia. Could there be a more important reason to stop this from happening?
Safety first
Exactly how much do illicit drugs affect your ability to drive? Difficulty concentrating, slower reflexes, muscle weakness, impaired coordination and an inability to judge speed and distance – these sound like the symptoms of an illness. In reality, they’re just some of the reasons it’s not safe to get behind the wheel when you’re under the influence. Perhaps even more dangerous is the fact drugs like speed and ecstasy, while making you a worse driver, can also increase confidence.This means someone who’s high is more likely to take dangerous risks. As these effects wear off, other potential killers such as drowsiness and fatigue can kick in. And even once the drug-induced high ends and you feel fine to drive, cannabis has been shown to affect your skills long after any outward signs of impairment have disappeared. The simple fact is that driving with drugs in your system can increase the likelihood and severity of a crash.
RAA Senior Manager of Road Safety Charles Mountain said it was because of the known impacts on drivers that RAA strongly supported drug testing by SA Police. “There’s been some controversy at a court level in Australia about drug testing of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the psychoactive element in cannabis) in particular, but there are also people taking dangerous risks on our roads, and there needs to be a way to hold them accountable,” he said. “Some drivers are still unaware of the effects these drugs can have on their driving ability, and how long they remain active in their system.”Mr Mountain also noted prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines could also greatly impair driving skills, and advised motorists to always check side effects with a healthcare professional before dosing up. “It’s just not worth the risk to your own life, or the lives of other motorists on the road.”
What happens if I get pulled over?
Most motorists know the drill when it comes to random breath tests for drink driving, but what happens at a roadside drug test? Similar to random breath testing, drivers and riders may be stopped for a roadside saliva test by a police officer at any time. If this happens, you’ll be asked to place a test strip on your tongue. The test can identify the recent consumption of THC, methylamphetamine and MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine). After alcohol, these are the three drugs most often detected in the blood of fatally injured drivers and motorcyclists in SA.Depending on the amount and potency of the drug used, and the individual’s metabolism, THC can be detected for several hours after use, while methylamphetamine and MDMA may be detected for about 24 hours. A driver who tests positive to the initial saliva test will have to leave their vehicle for a second test, either an oral fluid analysis or blood test. Once this is done the driver can go, but won’t be allowed to drive their vehicle.