Effects of Drugs on Driving

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role="menubar"> <li class="side-nav__subnav__item" role="menuitem"> <a href="/get-the-facts/faqs-ask-a-question/what-are-drugs/#what-is-a-drug">What is a drug?</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> </div> <div class="col-lg-8 content_container"> <article class="content"> <div class="grid"> <div class="grid-section"> <div > <div class='container'> <div class="row clearfix"> <div class="grid__col-sm-12 column"> <div > <h1><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Headlines">Drug Driving </span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":660,"335559740":240}"> </span></h1> <h2><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 2">Drug driving and the law </span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":60,"335559740":240}"> </span></h2> <p><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">In Western Australia, it is against the law for anyone to drive under the influence of a psychoactive drug or with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.05% or above. ‘L’ and ‘P’ platers must have a zero BAC when driving.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">The Road Traffic Act 1974 Section 63 states that ‘a person who drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or alcohol and drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle commits an offence, and the offender may be arrested without warrant’.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">Breaking this law carries penalties including disqualification from driving, fines and/or imprisonment.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <h3><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 2">The effects of drugs on driving </span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":60,"335559740":240}"> </span></h3> <p><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">The effects of drugs on driving ability include the following:</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 3">Stimulants</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":60,"335559740":240}"> </span></strong></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Gives the driver a false confidence.</span></span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Increase risk-taking behaviour.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Does not necessarily increase driving ability or the<span> </span></span></span><span data-contrast="none"><span>drivers</span></span><span data-contrast="none"><span><span> </span>coordination.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Can increase the risk of having a crash.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 3">Depressants</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":60,"335559740":240}"> </span></strong></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Slows the driver's reaction time.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Distorts the driver's perceptions.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Decreases ability to coordinate reaction when driving.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Can increase the risk of having a crash.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 3">Hallucinogens</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":60,"335559740":240}"> </span></strong></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Distorts the driver's visual perceptions.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Causes the driver difficulty in judging distances.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Decreases ability to coordinate the appropriate reaction when driving.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="7" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="none"><span>Can increase the risk of having a crash.</span></span><span data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":170,"335559740":240}"> </span></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="info-bottom"> <div class="container"> <div class="info-bottom__img"> <img src="/images/info.png?v=6f329d1182bb7a3a6a0cc5ca546080d5" alt="Looking for info about the effects of specific drug"> <a href="/get-the-facts/drug-types/" title="Drug Types" class="button">Find it here</a> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <footer class="footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6 footer-hide-mobile"> <h6>Popular Topics</h6> <nav class="footer__nav"> <a href="/popular-content/?tag=Drug Testing">Drug Testing</a> | <a href="/popular-content/?tag=Staying Safe">Staying Safe</a> | <a href="/popular-content/?tag=Cannabis">Cannabis</a> </nav> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <nav class="footer__social"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Drug-Aware-179203535459418/" 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Effects of Drugs on Driving | Drug Aware