Drug driving reaches epidemic proportions – IAM RoadSmart
IAM RoadSmart says a robust plan is urgently needed from the Government to outline how it plans to ‘stamp out’ drug driving among young drivers. The call comes on the back of a survey of more than 2,000 drivers, which the charity says shows there is “a shocking level of illegal drug-driving going on among younger drivers”.
The survey finds that 28% of respondents aged 16-24 years have either driven under the influence of illegal drugs, or been a passenger where the driver has taken illegal drugs within the 24-hour period beforehand. Meanwhile, more than a third (32%) believe it’s more common to drive under the influence of illegal drugs than drink driving.
More positively, over two-thirds (69%) of this age group would be likely to stop others under the influence from driving. However, almost a fifth (19%) of young drivers are unlikely to stop a family member or friend who was planning to drive while under the influence of illegal drugs.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, said: “IAM RoadSmart’s research clearly shows there is a shocking level of illegal drug-driving going on among younger drivers which risks not only their lives but the lives of all road users.”
