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Home » Consumer Information » Automobile Safety » Driver Impairment

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

Florida legislation will penalize drivers under the influence of drugs; similar to alcohol, illegal, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs all cause impairment and can lead to a severe auto accident injury.

Marijuana

Smoking or ingesting cannabis will slow your eye and ear sensory functions, which are both vital to being a safe driver. We all know that the task of driving calls for us to be alert and on the lookout for unexpected events. Driving under the influence of marijuana becomes a bit complicated when situations in which quick decisions are required to escape danger. For instance, a marijuana user may be incapable of processing a car backing out of a driveway or a child chasing a ball into their path until it is too late. Problems associated with marijuana abuse and driving escalate after dark because the drug causes serious vision deterioration at night.

Additional drugs

A variety of other drugs and controlled substances are detrimental to a driver's aptitude:

  • Illegal hard drugs like heroin, LSD, and opium can put the driver into a trance in which they are basically oblivious to their surroundings and what they mean. The driver may hallucinate and feel as if they are in a fantasy world, which can have dire consequences.
  • Prescription sedatives and tranquilizers will induce drowsiness; driving and fatigue don't mix.
  • The majority of medication taken to fight colds, hay fever, and headaches also may cause drivers to feel lethargic. Driving on pain killers and anything containing codeine is an even greater risk.
  • Stimulants like cocaine, speed, and diet pills may temporarily boost your energy and alertness, but this "high" feeling is always followed by a crash characterized by exhaustion, anxiety, dizziness, the inability to focus. Your vision may also deteriorate while taking any of these.
  • Inhaling or "huffing" controlled substances such as spray paint or glue vapors is both a hazard to your health as well as to you and other drivers.
  • Although they are legal, prescription and over-the-counter medication may also cause drowsiness or other side effects that negatively impact your driving skills. Be sure to read the labels on the packaging, and consult with a doctor and/or pharmacist for more information.

Never mix any kind of drug with alcohol, as it amplifies the effects that the drug would normally have if taken alone. Combining drugs, alcohol, and driving is a death sentence.