Organisation: Department for Transport
Date uploaded: 11th March 2015
Date published/launched: March 2015
The campaign explains that drugs can affect the ability to drive in numerous ways, ranging from slower reaction times, erratic and aggressive behaviour, an inability to concentrate properly, nausea, hallucinations, panic attacks, paranoia, tremors (or ‘the shakes’) to dizziness and fatigue.
It also explains that taking a mixture of drugs to ‘sharpen up’ doesn’t work and that, in fact, combining drugs can have “dramatic and unpredictable effects on a user’s state and ability to drive”.
The campaign also urges passengers not to accept a lift from a driver they think may have taken drugs.
In research conducted by THINK!, almost half of those surveyed (49%) said that as a passenger they would not feel comfortable asking a driver if they were under the influence of illegal drugs.
Of those who admitted to driving under the influence of illegal drugs, 55% said they did so because they felt safe to drive; and 60% revealed they had previously driven a car when they were unsure if they were still under the influence of illegal drugs.
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