You hear a lot about drink driving on the news and in advertisements, but we don’t talk about driving under the influence of drugs enough. When you’re young, you’re more likely to experiment with things like drugs and alcohol, which means it’s more important than ever that you understand the consequences of getting behind the wheel.
It might not seem like a big deal, but drug driving can be just as bad as being on the road while you’re drunk (and worse in some cases). Being safe behind the wheel is so important, especially since young drivers already get so much flak from the media and older road users. We’re here to highlight the dangers of drug driving to help keep you safe.
What Happens if You Get Caught Drug Driving?
In the UK, getting caught driving under the influence of drugs will often land you with a 12-month ban and a fine of up to £5,000. In very severe cases, you could also end up in prison for 12 months. It doesn’t get treated with a warning or a slap on the wrist, it is seen as a very serious offence for drivers of any age.
If you cause damage to property or refuse to give blood, breath, and urine samples to the police, you might find that this punishment becomes even more severe. In fact, killing someone in a car accident while under the influence of drugs can land you a prison sentence of 14 years. It’s not something the authorities play around with.
The Consequences of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Drug driving has so many more consequences than legal ones. In addition to fines and bans, it can impact your work and travel. If you drive for a living, your job is pretty much gone, and you’ll struggle to get another in that line of work with drug driving on your record. You are also likely to have a hard time travelling to countries like the USA and Australia because of it.
Are Only Illegal Drugs Included?
In 2015, the UK Government introduced roadside testing for drugs to help combat a growing rise in the number of cases. It’s there to detect if people are driving under the influence of drugs, but this is also where the next part comes in – drug driving isn’t limited to illegal substances. There are prescription drugs that count as well.
You have the standard drugs such as LSD, cannabis, cocaine, and all the other illegal substances you can think of. But there are also prescription medications that can impair your reaction times and make it unsafe for you to drive – especially in high doses. These prescription medications include (but are not limited to):
- Amphetamine
- Clonazepam
- Diazepam
- Flunitrazepam
- Lorazepam
- Methadone
- Morphine
- Opioids
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
How Do You Minimise the Risk?
If you do decide to experiment with drugs or you have taken a prescription that has the potential to impair your focus, there is something you can do to minimise the risk. Don’t drive. It’s as simple as that. Don’t get behind the wheel of any car so that you can keep yourself and other road users as safe as possible.
Instead, call an Uber or a taxi to take you home or get a lift with friends who haven’t been under the influence of anything and are safe to drive. It’s the best way to avoid potentially killing someone or getting in trouble with the police.
Where Do Young Drivers Come in?
The Department of Transport has shown that cases of drug driving have seen a 170% increase within the last decade. Worse than that, fatalities from drug-driving accidents have gone up by 164%. It’s a shocking number, but where do you, as a young driver, come into the equation? Unfortunately, the statistics are not on your side.
In 2023, over 3 million drivers aged between 16 and 59 were reported to be using illegal drugs. Furthermore, autopsies from fatal accidents showed that those aged between 20 and 29 had the highest percentage of drugs in their systems at the time of the accident. 8% of fatalities on the roads are caused by drug driving, and it has become a serious issue.
Stay Safe with New Driver Insurance UK from MyFirst
The average insurance for 17-year-old drivers is incredibly expensive, and we understand how stressful it is to try and keep on top of your car and your finances. We pride ourselves on providing the cheapest car insurance for young drivers because, at MyFirst, we were exactly where you were once. We want you to have insurance that’s reliable and affordable.
Want cheap first-time car insurance? Get in touch with us today and see how much we can save you with a free quote. Your driving experience is about to change.
