Drowsy and Drugged Driving Must Be Confronted

22 May 2002

Drowsy and Drugged Driving Must Be Confronted says AA Directions

Driving while drowsy is as dangerous as driving while drunk and more resource should be devoted to spreading this message, AA Directions says in its May Issue.

“People are taking on board the message that drunk driving is anti-social but there is simply not the same awareness either in the community or in official circles about driving while suffering from sleep deficit,” says Motoring Editor Peter King.

The danger is particularly acute with truck drivers, as a recent survey found 24% were driving in a state of dangerous drowsiness.

Part of the problem has been an official attitude that drivers need to be threatened with a policeman before they will change their behaviour. The AA believes that most drivers want to avoid accidents and simply need to be educated about the risks.

Another problem the magazine confronts in its May issue is the growing danger of drugged driving as more and more people drive after consuming cannabis, GHB, ecstasy or methamphetamines.

“There is simply no data on drugged driving in New Zealand but the level of use in this country and indications from overseas show that it can be expected to become a growing problem”, Mr King says.

The problem is the law requires a great deal to be proved when someone is charged with driving under the influence of a drug that renders them incapable of driving. One of the solutions proposed by the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety is a zero tolerance regime such that any amount of illegal drug found in a person’s bloodstream when driving is automatically an offence.

The two problems are closely linked.

“One of the problems with methamphetamines, ecstasy and the like is that people use pills to stave off the effects of natural exhaustion. When the pills wear off they return to a completely exhausted state and if they are behind the wheel at that time the effects can be lethal”, Mr King says.

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