Safe Speed Forums

Thousands of young drivers could be taking to the road while unfit through drugs, a survey has indicated.

As many as 20% of 17 to 24-year-olds admitted taking illegal drugs within the past year, breakdown service Green Flag found.

More than 3% of these young people said they had taken drugs and then driven and were likely to do so again.

Almost a third knew someone who took illegal substances and drove regularly.

Some 10% said they were likely to take drugs over the festive period and more than half said someone they knew would take them.

And 15% of 17 to 24-year-olds said they would be prepared to drive within three hours of taking legal drugs such as tranquillisers and anti-depressants.

Both are likely to affect driving ability.

Green Flag spokeswoman Philippa Naylor said: "Even the morning after a night out, drugs can still be in the body's system and the consequences of impaired driving can be severe.

"Not only could drivers lose their licence but they risk causing an accident, injuring themselves or someone else."

How many people know that performance is impaired to an equal degree by staying awake for 16 hours as by having 35mg/1dl blood alcohol concentration (the legal drink-drive limit)?