Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 35 or reckless – weaving, speeding, driving off the road, and (too often) crashing. If the label advises against operating heavy machinery, consider it a warning not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Stimulants Stimulant drugs, such as caffeine and amphetamines, may increase alertness, but this does not mean they improve driving skills. The tired driver who drinks coffee to stay awake on the road should be aware that the stimulant effect can wear off suddenly, and that the only remedy for fatigue is to pull off the road and sleep. Amphetamines do not seem to affect driving skills when taken at medical doses, but they do make some people over-confident, which can lead to risky driving. Higher doses of amphetamines often make people hostile and aggressive. If you think drug taking has little, or even a positive impact on your driving, you could be tragically mistaken. It's important to bear in mind that it can be hard to determine exactly how a drug will affect your driving ability – impairment caused by drugs can vary according to the individual, drug type, dosage, the length of time the drug stays in your body, or if the drug has been taken with other drugs or alcohol. When taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, it is wise to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before driving. ILLEGAL DRUGS Illegal drugs impair your driving. They can alter your perception of time and what you see. They can make you hallucinate or miss things you should see. They can put you to sleep. Marijuana Some people think that marijuana is a safer substitute to drinking, but it can cause concentration to wander, which can affect reaction times. It can also cause paranoia, drowsiness, distorted perception and a sense of disorientation – all of which could cause you to lose control at the wheel. Marijuana is the most commonly traced drug in drivers. Even though the effects fade after a matter of hours, it can be detected in the blood for up to four weeks. In theory, this can compromise the driver if they tested positive, even if their driving wasn't adversely affected at the time. Some experts claim that smoking a marijuana joint has roughly a similar level of impairment on driving ability as drinking four pints of beer. Also, reports show that in the majority of fatal collisions where marijuana has been detected in a driver's body, alcohol has also been detected. Alcohol alone or in combination with marijuana increases impairment, collision rate and collision responsibility (the same can be applied to other drugs too). Cocaine This is a psycho-stimulant that can lead to misjudging driving speed and stopping distances. It can also cause a distorted sense DRINKING, DRUGS & DRIVING CONTINUED
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