Drug Use and Driving in British Columbia.

A recent study published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) in the Traffic Injury Prevention journal shows that amphetamine and opiate drugs are as commonly used as alcohol by people who drive vehicles “under the influence”. Using drugs and alcohol impairs cognition, motor skills and can alter perception of time and spatial awareness –not a good condition to be in when driving on the road..

 A further study by CCSA shows that about one third of drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents test positive for at least one drug and that nearly one in four test positive for alcohol. Using drugs and alcohol together is said to increase your chances as a driver of crash involvement.

 In calling for a campaign to raise driver awareness of the dangers of mixing driving with drugs and alcohol, CCSA fails to emphasize that of all the drivers killed in crashes – the majority (around two thirds) don’t test positive for alcohol or drugs.

 People who drive in Asian countries can find it hard to adapt to a system of traffic flow which appears at first glance to have no method or system or rules. Vast amounts of traffic manage to negotiate and maintain efficient movement with little external direction, with minimal incident and few major accidents. In the swirl and flow of overcrowded traffic conditions – a fundamental respect for other vehicles on the road, and compliance to rules which are mutually understood is essential if the traffic is not to grind to a halt and vehicles collide.

 In Western countries virtually every intersection and highway is strictly governed by external rules. In theory there would be no accidents if everyone on the road, including cyclists, simply obeyed the rules. Major and minor collisions happen every day.

 Few people in a hurry are immune from taking risks – pushing up the speed a bit, or beating a red light. Most people regard themselves as good drivers who can safely bend the rules if they consider it to be expedient. Drivers who keep to speed limits and follow the rules are often regarded as an impediment to those who take up the challenge of driving like a warrior going into battle.

When traffic lights fail, or road conditions are poor, most drivers take pride in managing the situation so that no collisions occur.

 Most vehicle collisions are not accidents, simply the result of driver aggression. Vehicle collisions, like drug and alcohol use are merely the visible symptoms of people trying and failing to manage underlying stress. Bad driving and drug use seem to relieve some tension.

 Spending money to create awareness that alcohol and drug use impair driving is like teaching Grandma to suck eggs. People already know that but still they use and sometimes drive with drugs and alcohol in their system.

 Vehicle crashes won’t be prevented until people practice tolerance and respect for other people and their rights on the road. The majority of people involved in road accidents are under the influence – of their own aggression.

A road traffic campaign that gets down to dealing with aggression as a cause of collisions on our roads would do us all a favor. If people were less competitive, rushed and aggressive – not only would there be fewer road accidents – we might see a marked decline in drug alcohol abuse to relieve anxiety and depression.

 Holistic treatments for drug abuse have very successful outcomes – why not extend holistic treatments to all offenders on our roads?