Taking drugs when driving puts yourself and others at serious risk. The harmful side effects of drugs mean that the senses you rely on to operate a car are seriously impaired. We’ve taken a look at some popular drugs and what their effects can do to you when you’re driving. Driving on drugs is a serious crime, and with these side effects, it’s clear to see why.
Heightened Sense of Sound
Drug likely to cause this reaction: MDMA
Having a heightened sense of sound when you’re driving may seem like a good thing – you’ll be able to hear hazards better, right? Actually, having a heightened sense of sound can cause you to panic, make you more aggressive when driving and impair your judgement. MDMA and Cocaine are often found to have this effect.
Aggression
Drug likely to cause this reaction: Cocaine
Cocaine makes people aggressive anyway, so add it to driving a heavy vehicle, and you can see where the danger lies. Being an aggressive driver means you’re more likely to make rash decisions when driving or to speed, meaning you could end up with even more points on your license.
Distorted Vision
Drug likely to cause this reaction: MDMA
It’s obvious that being able to see when driving is an important thing – but impairing your vision when driving puts everyone at risk. MDMA is a psychoactive drug, and it can cause hallucinations as well as poor vision when driving, which is not what you need when driving down the motorway at 70 miles an hour.
Slowed Reaction Times
Drug likely to cause this reaction: Cannabis
Being able to react to a situation when driving quickly is an essential skill. Smoking Cannabis will slow your reaction times, making it dangerous to drive. It’s also worth bearing in mind that your eyes will give you away when you’re pulled over by the police. If you’re on opiates, your pupils will be smaller than usual, and if on stimulants, your pupils will be larger when reacting to light.
Penalties for Drug Driving
If you drive when on drugs, then you could be facing a 12-month ban, a £5,000 fine and even imprisonment if the charges are serious enough.