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Alcohol & Drugs

Alcohol & Drugs - the facts

Alcohol and drugs can seriously affect a person’s ability to drive safely and increase the risk of death and injury for everyone sharing the road with them. Alcohol is a leading contributor to road crashes.

The gist of it
  • Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to vital organs, including the brain.
  • Alcohol can slow reactions, affect judgement, and blur vision, making it harder to drive safely. Many drugs can affect driving in similar ways
  • Driving over the legal blood alcohol limit is illegal.
  • Legal alcohol limits are different around the world. Young novice drivers are required to have a zero blood alcohol reading in Australia and New Zealand.
  • Many different kinds of drugs can affect a person’s ability to drive safely, including recreational drugs and prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Why it's an issue - Alcohol

  • Alcohol consumed at night can still be in the bloodstream the next morning, meaning a person may still be affected without realising it.
  • Different drink sizes and alcohol strengths can make it difficult to judge how much alcohol has been consumed. This can make it harder for people who can legally drink small amounts to know if they are under the legal limit.
  • Alcohol slows reaction times, affects judgement, reduces attention and concentration, blurs vision, dulls hearing, and increases risk-taking behaviour.

Why it's an issue - Drugs

  • Drugs can stay in a person’s system long after they are taken, meaning they may still affect driving ability later on.
  • Drugs can affect driving in many of the same ways as alcohol, depending on the type of drug. Effects can include aggression, hallucinations, paranoia, fatigue, dizziness, tremors, slower reaction times, and poor judgement.
  • Some prescription and over-the-counter medications — including cold, cough, allergy, and sleep medicines — can cause drowsiness, slower reaction times, and poor judgement.

Reducing the Risk

  • If you have consumed alcohol or taken drugs, do not drive.
  • Do not get into a car with a driver who has consumed alcohol or taken drugs
  • Planning ahead can help people avoid unsafe choices. This may include organising a safe ride home, using public transport, or staying somewhere safe for the night.
  • If taking medications that warn against driving or operating machinery, talk to a doctor or pharmacist about possible alternatives that may be safer for driving.

There are still many common myths about driving after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, but the facts clearly show the risks.

Myth vs Fact

Fact

Time is the only thing that sobers a person up. After a big night of drinking, alcohol can still be in the bloodstream the next morning.

Coffee may make a person feel more awake, but it does not remove alcohol from the body.

Fact

Alcohol affects judgement, reaction times, and decision-making. Drivers who are over the limit are not driving as safely as they may think.

Driving more slowly does not remove the risk of causing a crash. Police are trained to identify drivers affected by alcohol and drugs.

Fact

Alcohol moves from the stomach into the bloodstream. Through the bloodstream, it travels to the brain, liver, and other organs.

Food may help a person feel better, but it does not remove alcohol from the blood or sober a person up.

Safety Checklist

Here's a few things you can do to help you avoid driving under the influence:

  1. Plan ahead. If there is a chance you may not be able to drive home safely, organise alternatives like public transport, taxis, rideshare services, or somewhere safe to stay for the night.
  2. Choose a driver before the night begins so everyone’s responsibilities are clear. Support that driver by helping them stick to the plan
  3. Do not pressure, shame, or encourage someone to drive if they are not completely sober. Do not let others pressure you into unsafe choices either.
  4. If taking prescription medication, understand how it may affect driving. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if unsure.
  5. Read labels on over-the-counter medications and follow the advice. Warnings about operating heavy machinery also apply to driving.
  6. Always have a backup plan incase things go wrong. Plan B should be part of your Plan A.

It allowed me to do some introspection into my own habits and personaility traits, and come out the other side with targeted strategies on how to keep myself and others safe both behind the wheel and passengers in the car.

Evie
Student, Centenary Heights State High School, QLD