{"id":268,"date":"2010-08-01T12:19:26","date_gmt":"2010-08-01T11:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-red-driving-school.pantheonsite.io\/?p=268"},"modified":"2019-12-18T16:08:35","modified_gmt":"2019-12-18T16:08:35","slug":"government-takes-action-against-drug-drivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/2010\/08\/government-takes-action-against-drug-drivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Government takes action against drug drivers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alcohol and drugs contribute to the shocking figures I mentioned in my first blog post on road safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are anticipating a government announcement today that they plan to install a device at every police station across the country within two years, which can detect if motorists have been driving with illegal drugs in their system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sixth of all drivers who are killed in road traffic crashes have illegal drugs in their blood and, in a sixth of all people who die on our roads, alcohol has been a factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d like to cover off some facts about drink and drug driving in this blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol \u2013 the facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your reactions are slowed after just one drink.  With your brain working less efficiently, speed and distance are difficult to judge, decision making is affected, and over confidence and risk-taking are increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calculating your alcohol limit is virtually impossible because there are so many variable factors, such as age, weight, sex, tolerance to alcohol, metabolic rate, whether you are tired or unwell and when you last ate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pint<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo by Tim Dobson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One drink may contain in excess of one unit of alcohol and it takes hours for alcohol to leave your system.  Many drunk drivers are caught the \u2018morning after the night before\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who drive over twice the legal alcohol limit are 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash.  If you do not drive sober you risk up to 14 years imprisonment should you be convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, under the influence of drink or drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivers are routinely breath tested after crashes, even if not at fault, and if convicted, drivers risk imprisonment for up to six months and fines of up to \u00a35000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than a million breath tests are conducted each year.  At the least driving under the influence is idiotic and could mean you end up in prison, maimed or dead.  You risk losing your licence, your job and your friends; most people do not respect and do not want the association with drunk drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drugs \u2013 the facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The effect of drug use on drivers can be devastating to other road users, the driver\u2019s family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young drivers are mixing small quantities of alcohol and small amounts of recreational drugs with devastating results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a variety of effects on the user, depending on what has been taken and in what cocktail.  Many of these will impact on a driver and have one or several of the following effects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"blurry<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo by BarelyFitz<\/p>\n\n\n\n