Drug driving – hardcore taking high-wire risks

One-in-20 people who admit to drink-driving also take illegal drugs and drive, according to research carried out for Green Flag Motoring Assistance by the road safety charity Brake. The survey also revealed that the greater the quantity of alcohol people admitted to drinking before driving, the more likely they were to also take illegal drugs and get behind the wheel.

Researchers believe the real figure could be even greater as many respondents may not have been prepared to admit to illegal drug use, despite the fact the survey was marked confidential.

Chief executive of Brake, Mary Williams OBE, says: "It is deeply disturbing to find that some drivers are prepared to ignore the message that driving while impaired can be fatal. Getting behind the wheel while under the influence of illegal drugs shows a woeful disregard for human life. Clearly more needs to be done to tackle the anti-social minority whose potentially lethal actions seriously threaten the lives of other road users."

Green Flag spokesperson, Nigel Charlesworth said: " This research reveals the extent of the growing problem of taking drugs and driving and highlights that there is still a hardcore of drivers who insist in taking high-wire risks."

Dr Rob Tunbridge, head of impairment studies at the transport research body TRL says: "TRL’s research into drugs and driving suggests that a large number of drivers and riders are driving when impaired by illegal drugs or medication. We have seen a six-fold increase in illicit drug use since the 1980s. Driving under the influence of drugs significantly increases the chances of being killed or seriously injured in a crash."