Safe Speed Forums

Someone once told me that a doctor had once told them that amphetamines had a positive effect on driving, i.e. increased awareness, alertness, resistance to fatigue etc.

No sure how much truth is in it, or indeed whether a doctor actually said it although I do recall someone else saying some soldiers, not sure which country get a daily dose in combat for the same reasons.

If its true cocaine would probably be the same.

Sorry, this was supposed to be a reply to the "road side drug tests" thread.

I would not recommend these to improve someone's driving!

Eek no no no . All the suposed + points you have listed are an illusion. These drugs will inrease your stamina (in the old days of the tour de france, loads of cyclists used them), but when they wear off you will be totally drained, the body is not supposed to run at 150%.
The alertness and confidence that come with them are false, as they will not improve your driver skills, but instead just make you think you are Aerton Senna. Appart from that you're in trouble if I find you with them

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'Detritus, get yer stoney arse over ere'

Is there a roadside test for these kinds of "stimulant" drugs or is it reserved for suspected cannabis use?

Suppose you would know if the person couldn't keep still?

fighter pilots on long radio silent missions have been known to use an amphetamine based substance to stay alert. i know of one or two lorry drivers who have done the same when running on the continent.

but what goes up must come down, and like it's been said above, when it wears off you will feel like sh*te!

But does it actually impair your driving?

Yes. Because it over-increases your confidence and you may take unnecessary risk.

Also - effects wear off quickly - leaving you drained and thus prone to nodding off and crashing.

Would not recommend this at all. If you want a quick buzz- then that Red Bull cr@p does the job just as effectively and does not have the same feeling of doo-lalliness whenit wears off.

Similarly strong black coffee, or caffeine tablets which you can still buy over the counter at the chemist can give the required effect without the more serious side effects.

Best way to stay alert at wheel of course - is right amount of sleep, healthy diet and healthy amount of exercise. (Which can be anything from brisk walk, gentle work out at the gym, swim, or even short bicycle ride! )

With reference to the fighter pilots...

Current thinking is that many of the "Blue on Blue" friendly fire incidents by american pilots were directly as a result of impaired reaction processes and decision making - directly associated to the used of these drugs.

Or as the old wartime saying about artillery barrages goes-

When the Germans open fiire, the English take cover
When the English open up, the Germans take cover
When the Americans open up EVERYONE takes cover