Not a drop, Not a drag - Stay Sober, Save Lives
Given that there have been so many awareness-raising campaigns about the dangers of drink driving, people still drink and drive, both after drinking and also the morning after drinking, and the deaths continue.
It is also the case that some drivers take to the wheel after using illegal drugs. Illegal drugs can stay in your system for weeks or even months - it just isn't possible to have driving and illegal drugs in your life at the same time.
Road Safety Week 09 is calling on all drivers to commit to not drink even a drop of alcohol before driving, nor take even a drag on a joint or any other illegal drug.
We are also calling on communities to inform the police of known drunk and drugged drivers and help save a life.
Here are the facts
Drug driving - the facts
Illegal drugs can affect a driver's behaviour and body in all sorts of dangerous and unpredictable ways, including: slower reaction times, poor concentration, sleepiness/fatigue, confused thinking, distorted perception and over-confidence. Drugs can stay in your system for weeks, even months. If you drive, never take any illegal drugs.
See how your driving is likely to be affected if you drive after taking some of the most common illegal drugs:
Cannabis: You have slow reaction times and struggle to do two tasks at once (like change gear and steer straight). Combining cannabis with alcohol magnifies its effect. Cannabis strengths vary wildly. Even one spliff can affect you for up to four hours.
Ecstasy: On ecstasy you have blurred vision and can't judge distance or speed. You might suffer extreme emotions that are lethal behind the wheel, like anxiety and paranoia. The effects of ecstasy can last 12 hours, but tiredness from being up all night can affect you for days.
Cocaine: You are confident but erratic, likely to take risks, may suffer from paranoia, and even hallucinate. Combining cocaine and alcohol can be lethal behind the wheel. Intense effects of cocaine last about an hour, but after-effects can last much longer.
Speed: Amphetamines make you over-excited, restless and can lead to risk-taking. You may experience strong emotions like fear, panic and aggression. You may get dizzy or collapse. The effects can last more than four hours.
LSD: You are a likely to suffer from hallucinations, delusions, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, poor control and confused thinking – a killer combination.
Heroin: You are sluggish, sleepy and unable to control a vehicle. Strong effects can last for 24 hours.
Some legal prescription or over-the counter drugs can also affect your ability to drive safely.
Drink driving - the facts
If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash than a driver who hasn't been drinking. Your reaction times are slower after just one drink. You can't judge speed or distances accurately, you're over-confident and you make bad decisions. It's impossible to calculate exactly how much alcohol is in your system or whether you're over the drink-drive limit.
Three steps we can all take to stop the menace of drink and drug driving
1. Drivers: not a drop; not a drag
Road Safety Week is the ideal time to make a personal commitment: if you're driving, don't risk even a drop of alcohol or a drag of a joint or any other illegal drug.
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Never drink any amount of alcohol if you're driving
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Never drink late at night if you're driving early the next morning
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Make sure you've got plenty of time to sober up before you next have to drive. If you plan to drive many hours after drinking, count your units and over-estimate how long it will take to sober up.
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The speed at which alcohol is absorbed into your system (and how quickly your system gets rid of it) depends on a variety of factors, including your weight, metabolism, health and when you last ate. So it's very difficult to predict accurately how long it will take to sober up - always over-estimate
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Always check that prescription or over-the-counter medication is safe to drive on. Check the label or with your pharmacist or doctor. If you're on prescription drugs that impair your ability to drive, don't risk it. If in doubt, don't drive on medication.
2. Passengers: plan ahead
If you know you'll be drinking, plan your journey home - and have a 'plan B'.
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Know what time the last bus leaves - or keep a taxi number and emergency fare handy.
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If you have a designated driver in your group who's promised to stay sober, keep half an eye on them to make sure they stick to the plan.
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If you're getting picked up, make sure it's by someone you trust not to have had a drop of alcohol or drag of drugs before they get behind the wheel.
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Never submit to pressure to get into a vehicle with a driver you think is on drink or drugs - they have your life in their hands.
3. Everyone: stop deaths, shop drink and drug drivers
Take responsibility for stopping drink and drug driving.
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Never buy an alcoholic drink or offer drugs to someone you know is driving.
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Tell your employer immediately (and in confidence) if you catch a colleague drink-driving or suspect they may be driving on drugs.
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Talk to your friends and family about the dangers of driving after having even a drop of alcohol, or drag of a joint or other impairing drug.
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And on behalf of the thousands of families across the UK whose lives have been devastated by drink and drug drivers, help prevent more death and injury by shopping anyone who insists on getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs to your local police, or reporting them to Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.