Know the Score - Info & Advice on Drugs In Scotland
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Drugs and Driving
Drugs and Driving: The Facts
In spring 2001 the Scottish Government published research into recreational drug use and driving. The research found that 9% of drivers in the 17-39 age groups reported ever having driven under the influence of illegal drugs and that cannabis was the most common drug to have been used drug driving.
Drugs that impair your driving need not be illegal ones like ecstasy or cannabis. They can be medicines that are sold over the counter like some cough medicines, so read the instruction carefully or if concerned ask a pharmacist for advice.
Drugs and Driving: The Effects
Driving under the influence of drugs can seriously affect your driving ability, increasing your risk of having an accident and endangering both your life and the lives of others.
The effects of driving under the influence of drugs include:
- Impaired co-ordination
- Distorted visual perception
- Over-confidence
- Loss of concentration
- Increased risk taking behaviour
- Inappropriate driving
- Reduced ability to judge distances and speeds
Drugs and Driving: The Law
It is an offence to drive a motor vehicle whilst impaired through the use of drugs and if found guilty you will be:
- Disqualified from driving
- Fined up to a maximum of £5,000 or receive 6 months imprisonment.
All Scottish Police forces have officers who are trained to detect drivers whose use of drugs has made them unfit to drive.
Useful link:
The Scottish Road Safety Campaign www.srsc.org.uk