Drink, Drugs and Young Drivers

I have just found some research about the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink and/or drugs:

21% UK drivers aged 17-18 admit to driving on drink or drugs.
32% said they had been in a car with a drunk or drugged driver

There have been a lot of campaigns trying to raise the awareness of the issue but young drivers still appear to think it is OK to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, particularly ‘the morning after’. Nearly 1 in 6 convicted drink-drivers are caught the morning after.

1 in 6 deaths (478 people) were caused by drivers over the legal alcohol limit on UK roads in 2007.
At least 15,935 people in the UK were killed or hurt by drink and drug-drivers in 2007. That’s:

• 1328 people every month
• 306 people every week
• 44 people every day
• 2 people every hour

If you are at twice the legal alcohol limit, you are 30 times more likely to cause a road crash. Your reactions are slower after only 1 drink. You can’t judge speed or distances accurately. You are over confident and are likely to make bad decisions, possibly leading to an accident.

Equally, drug taking will impair your ability to drive safely.
Drugs (legal or otherwise) can affect you in the following ways:

• Slower reaction times
• Poor concentration
• Sleepiness / Fatigue
• Confused thinking
• Distorted perception
• Over-confidence

Drugs can stay in your system for days – possibly even months and will effect you for the same period. Research has found that 17% of drivers who die in road crashes have traces of illegal drugs in their system. A further 6% of fatalities have traces of medicinal drugs in their system.

What can you do about it?

• Simply, DON’T drink, DON’T take drugs if you are going to drive.
• If you have taken some medicine, check the label to see if it is likely to make you drowsy (e.g. some cough medicines or pain killers). If it is, DON'T drive and get someone else to take you.
• DON’T get into a car with someone you suspect has drunk too much or has taken drugs – it may be the last time you do!
• Use public transport (bus or train) or a recognised taxi service / black cab.
• Call a friend or relative that can collect you – they may be annoyed at being called out late at night, but tell them why you're calling. They would rather take a drive to pick you up rather than visit a hospital or mortuary!
• DON’T become an accident statistic.

For more information about driving safely, please go to my website at http://www.gtdrivingschool.net/ or contact me on 07906 302910.