Drug driving - the next taboo
Drug driving - the next taboo
Christmas is a time for celebration. It is the one time of year
when all your friends and family are gathered round to make
merry and enjoy the festive cheer. During the Christmas holidays
many people take the opportunity to attend parties at clubs and
bars throughout the UK. Letting your hair down can mean; a few
festive glasses of wine, a sherry under the mistletoe or smoking
cannabis. Cannabis use is high in the UK, with an estimated
3,364,000 people using the drug.
According to recent government statistics a third of people have
taken drugs at one point in their lives and 10% have tried them
in the past year. Whilst the use of non prescription drugs is
illegal in the UK, for many people smoking a joint is as natural
as having a pint of beer. Unfortunately, a large proportion of
drug users still drive after taking drugs, as they don't
appreciate the danger they pose. Drink driving, whilst still an
issue in the UK, is becoming a taboo subject among those who
partake in a tipple. However, because drug use is against the
law, many people who use drugs are unaware of, or not concerned
about the risks of drug driving.
Drug use is not discussed openly and therefore people choosing
to take drugs are not advised by others to avoid driving. Many
drug users also still believe that they will not be tested for
drugs if stopped by the police. In fact new police powers have
been introduced to allow police to carry out road side testing.
This will improve the powers of arrest and will provide the
police with more evidence with which to prosecute.
French scientists have recently announced that driving under the
influence of cannabis can double your chances of causing a fatal
car accident. Researchers from the French National Institute for
Transport and Safety Research (INRETS) carried out a study of
10,748 drivers who were involved in fatal car accidents between
2001 and 2003. 7 percent of the drivers tested positive for
cannabis and 21.4 percent for alcohol use.
Research carried out by Glasgow university, has shown that
people who attend night clubs are in the high risk category for
drug driving. Within this group people who take drugs and who
can drive are a higher risk still. With Christmas approaching
the risks taken by young clubbers will increase. With spirits
high, work certainly not on the agenda and an hour queue for a
taxi, some young people might be tempted to take to the road
after a big night out. The study showed that while the car
accidents caused by cannabis users were not as severe as those
caused by users of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamine or LSD, they
occurred much more frequently.
Drug users who choose to drive under the influence are risking
many lives. Getting behind the wheel after using cannabis is
potentially as risky as drink driving and many people are likely
to be injured or killed as a result. Many people are involved in
road traffic accidents every year in the UK and many of those
accidents are the result of negligence. Drug driving is a type
of negligence as the person who is under the influence should
not have been driving and is therefore negligent.
If you have been affected by drug driving and are suffering as a
result, then you are entitled to make a personal injury claim.
For more information, contact www.car-accident-claim.com. You
can get free legal advice about your situation and can make an
accident claim with the help of a leading personal injury
solicitor. If you have been injured by a drug driver then get
car accident compensation to help you move on with your life.
-ENDS-
Editorial notes:
Car Accident Adviceline www.car-accident-claim.com can help you
make a personal injury compensation claim, if you or your
passengers are injured, can get you back on the road in a free
replacement vehicle and can organise repairs to your vehicle.