DRIVE SMART DRIVING SCHOOL C2830

The Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on Driving Safety

Written by

Rodney Crawford

in

Navigating the complexities of modern life often involves encountering situations where individuals grapple with the use of alcohol and drugs, substances frequently employed for relaxation, social engagement, or as coping mechanisms for stress. However, the decision to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of these substances introduces a spectrum of dangers that extend far beyond the individual, impacting the safety and well-being of all road users (Cheng et al., 2019). Understanding the multifaceted ways in which alcohol and drugs impair cognitive and motor functions, diminish situational awareness, and compromise vision is crucial for fostering responsible decision-making and promoting safer driving habits (Tokko et al., 2018; Zhao et al., 2014). This exploration delves into the specific mechanisms through which these substances exert their detrimental effects, shedding light on the psychological factors that contribute to risky behaviors and emphasizing the severe real-world consequences that often result from impaired driving (Smailović et al., 2023). By examining these critical aspects, this discussion aims to underscore the importance of adhering to zero-tolerance laws and cultivating a comprehensive understanding of the profound impact that alcohol and drugs have on driving safety, ultimately contributing to the prevention of accidents, injuries, and fatalities on our roads (Chuang et al., 2018; Platt, 1964).

Physiological and Psychological Impairments

When someone consumes alcohol or drugs and then drives, the effects go far beyond just “feeling different.” These substances change how your brain and body work together, often in dangerous ways:

1. Cognitive Impairments (Thinking and Decision-Making)

  • Slower Reaction Times: Alcohol and drugs interfere with how quickly your brain can process information and send signals to your body. This delay can make it hard to brake quickly, avoid obstacles, or respond to sudden changes on the road.
  • Poor Judgment: Under the influence, people often misjudge distances, underestimate risks, or overestimate their abilities. This can lead to risky choices, like speeding or ignoring traffic signals.

2. Motor Function Impairments (Movement and Coordination)

  • Reduced Coordination: Drugs and alcohol disrupt the neural pathways responsible for controlling your muscles, making it hard to steer, stay in your lane, or operate pedals smoothly.
  • Balance Problems: Even tasks like turning your head to check for cars or pedestrians can become difficult, increasing the chance of swerving or losing control of the vehicle.

3. Visual Impairments

  • Blurred Vision: Many substances cause vision to become fuzzy, making it tough to see road signs, lane markings, or other vehicles clearly.
  • Tunnel Vision: Some drugs can cause “tunnel vision,” where you can only see what’s directly in front of you, missing important details in your peripheral vision.
  • Double Vision or Poor Depth Perception: Alcohol, especially, can make it hard to judge how far away other cars or obstacles are, which is dangerous at high speeds.

4. Diminished Situational Awareness

  • Distraction and Confusion: Impaired drivers may become easily distracted or confused, failing to notice important cues like brake lights, pedestrians, or changing road conditions.
  • Failure to Detect Hazards: Being under the influence makes it much harder to recognize and respond to potential dangers, raising the risk of accidents.

5. Psychological Effects (How You Feel and Behave)

  • Lowered Inhibitions: Alcohol especially can make people feel invincible or take risks they normally wouldn’t, such as aggressive driving or showing off.
  • Anxiety or Paranoia: Some drugs can cause nervousness or paranoia, which may distract from driving tasks or cause erratic behavior.
  • Overconfidence: Both alcohol and some drugs can make a person believe they are in better control than they actually are, leading to reckless choices.

Why Does This Matter?

  • All these impairments don’t just affect the driver—they endanger everyone else on the road, including friends, family, and total strangers.
  • According to multiple studies, the majority of accidents involving alcohol or drugs are preventable, and these crashes often result in serious injuries or deaths (Cheng et al., 2019; Tokko et al., 2018).

The Science Behind the Effects

Alcohol and drugs alter the balance of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. These changes slow down brain activity, weaken the signals controlling movement and vision, and interfere with the brain’s ability to assess danger and make quick decisions. Even small amounts can make a big difference, especially for young and inexperienced drivers.

Key Takeaway

Understanding these physiological and psychological effects isn’t just about “following rules”—it’s about recognizing how substances can silently strip away your ability to stay safe and protect others. That’s why zero-tolerance laws exist for young drivers, and why making responsible choices saves lives—not just your own, but everyone sharing the road.

Prescription & Illegal Drugs: Hidden Dangers on the Road

When people think about dangerous driving, alcohol is often the first thing that comes to mind. But many don’t realize that both prescription medications and illegal drugs can also have serious, sometimes even worse, effects on a person’s ability to drive safely.

1. Prescription Medications: Not Always as Safe as They Seem

What are prescription medications?
These are drugs given to you by a doctor to treat things like allergies, anxiety, pain, or even the common cold.

How can they affect driving?

  • Drowsiness: Many allergy medicines, sleep aids, and painkillers can make you sleepy, slow your reaction time, or even cause you to fall asleep at the wheel.
  • Confusion or Dizziness: Some medications can make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or “spaced out.” This is especially dangerous when you need to focus and make quick decisions on the road.
  • Blurred Vision: Certain medications affect your eyesight, making it hard to see clearly.
  • Poor Coordination: Medicines for anxiety, depression, or even muscle relaxants can slow your reflexes and make it tough to steer or brake.

Did you know?
Some common medications with these side effects include:

  • Antihistamines (for allergies)
  • Benzodiazepines (for anxiety)
  • Opioid painkillers
  • Muscle relaxers
  • Sleep medications

Why is this important?
Even if you’re taking your medicine as prescribed by a doctor, you can still be considered “impaired” in the eyes of the law. If you cause a crash while under the influence of a legal prescription drug, you can face the same penalties as someone driving drunk or on illegal drugs.

2. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications: Surprising Risks

What are OTC drugs?
These are medicines you can buy at a pharmacy without a prescription, like cough syrup or cold medicine.

Dangers:
Some OTC medicines, like those for colds, allergies, or sleep, can cause drowsiness, slow reactions, or fuzzy thinking—problems that make safe driving almost impossible.

3. Illegal Drugs: High Risk, Severe Consequences

Illegal drugs (like marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, meth, or LSD) can have unpredictable and often extreme effects on your brain and body.

Marijuana:

  • Slows reaction time
  • Impairs coordination and depth perception
  • Can cause drowsiness, confusion, or even panic attacks

Cocaine & Stimulants:

  • Can cause overconfidence, aggression, and reckless driving
  • May lead to erratic or impulsive behavior behind the wheel
  • When the drug wears off, extreme drowsiness or “crashes” can occur suddenly

Hallucinogens (like LSD or magic mushrooms):

  • Cause hallucinations, distort reality, and completely destroy the ability to drive safely
  • May lead to panic, paranoia, or dangerous behaviors

Opioids & Heroin:

  • Slow down all body systems, causing drowsiness, confusion, and severely reduced reflexes

Combinations:
Mixing drugs, or mixing drugs and alcohol, multiplies the dangers. Effects become stronger and more unpredictable—making accidents far more likely.

Legal Consequences

  • It’s illegal to drive under the influence of any substance that impairs your ability—whether it’s alcohol, an illegal drug, or even a legal medication that makes you unsafe.
  • Penalties can include heavy fines, losing your license, or even jail time, especially if someone is hurt as a result.

What Should You Do?

  • Always check labels and warnings on prescription and OTC medications. Look for warnings like “Do not operate heavy machinery.”
  • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how your medications may affect driving.
  • Never combine drugs or mix them with alcohol if you need to drive.
  • If you’re unsure, don’t drive. Use public transportation, get a ride, or stay where you are until you’re safe to drive.

Key Takeaway

Impairment isn’t just about illegal drugs or alcohol—any substance that changes how you think, feel, or move can put you and others at serious risk when you’re behind the wheel. Be informed, make safe choices, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

How To Stay Safe: Practical Steps for Everyone

  1. Never Drive After Using Alcohol or Drugs—Ever!
    This is the #1 rule for a reason. Whether it’s just “one drink” or a little bit of any drug, it’s never worth the risk. Even small amounts can seriously affect your judgment, reaction time, and ability to control a car. The consequences—accidents, injuries, legal trouble—can be life-changing (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023; Smailović et al., 2023).
  2. Safe Alternatives: How To Get Home Without Driving
    If you’re in a situation where you’ve used alcohol or drugs, or even if you’re just feeling too tired or distracted, there are lots of safer ways to get where you need to go:
  • Call a taxi or use a ride-share app (like Uber or Lyft). These options are available in most areas and can be a quick way to get home safely (Fell & Scherer, 2017).
  • Ask a trusted adult—a parent, older sibling, or family friend—if they can pick you up. Most people would rather have you call for a safe ride than risk your life (CDC, 2023).
  • Use public transportation if it’s available, like the bus or train (Fell & Scherer, 2017).
  • Walk home if it’s safe and not too far—but only if you’re sober and it’s safe to do so!
  • Stay where you are. Sometimes the best choice is to wait until you’re okay to travel. If you’re at a friend’s house or a party, see if you can spend the night.
  1. Be a Good Friend: Look Out for Each Other
    You have a lot more influence on your friends than you might think. If you see someone about to drive after drinking or using drugs:
  • Speak up! Offer to help them find a safe way home (Lewis et al., 2022).
  • Take their keys if you need to—better to have an awkward moment than a tragedy (CDC, 2023).
  • Help organize rides for everyone before going out. Make it a group rule to look after each other.
  1. Check Your Medications: Read the Labels
    Did you know many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications come with warnings about driving or using heavy machinery?
  • Read the label on your medication bottles for any safety warnings (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], 2021).
  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure whether a medicine can affect your ability to drive.
  • Side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision are red flags—don’t get behind the wheel if you feel any of these (NHTSA, 2021).
  1. Plan Ahead: Be Prepared Before You Go Out
    A little planning can save you from having to make a risky decision later on.
  • Decide your transportation plan before the event. For example, pick a designated driver who agrees not to drink or use any substances that night (CDC, 2023).
  • Arrange for a ride home—save the number of a taxi company or have a ride-share app downloaded on your phone.
  • Talk to your parents or guardians ahead of time. Let them know you might call for a ride if you need one—they’ll appreciate your honesty and responsibility.
  1. Never Get Into a Car With an Impaired Driver
    If you know or even suspect that the driver has been using alcohol or drugs:
  • Refuse the ride. Don’t be afraid to say no, even if it feels uncomfortable (Lewis et al., 2022).
  • Find another way home. Your safety comes first, always.
  1. Encourage a Safe Driving Culture
  • Support friends and family in making safe choices.
  • Spread awareness about the dangers of impaired driving at school or in your community.
  • Lead by example—never drive impaired, and encourage others to do the same.

Key Message
Staying safe isn’t just about protecting yourself—it’s about looking out for everyone around you. Most accidents involving alcohol or drugs can be prevented with a little planning and the courage to make the right choice. Your decision could save a life (Smailović et al., 2023; CDC, 2023).

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Impaired Driving: Get the Facts. Link
  • Fell, J. C., & Scherer, M. (2017). Estimation of the potential effectiveness of lower BAC limits for driving. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 41(12), 2128-2134. Link
  • Lewis, M. A., Litt, D. M., Cronce, J. M., & Blayney, J. A. (2022). Underage college students’ drinking behavior, access to alcohol, and the role of peer influence. Substance Use & Misuse, 57(2), 194-201. Link
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2021). Medication and Driving. Link
  • Smailović, J., Zeković, M., & Vesković, S. (2023). Driving under the influence: Risks, consequences, and strategies for prevention. Journal of Safety Research, 86, 134-142. Link

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