Driving High

I drive better when I’m high, baked, tweaking, wasted, charging, blazing, tripping, stoned… Would you like facts with that?

People take drugs for lots of reasons, but mostly because they want to change their reality for a while. Drugs can make you feel really confident, or really relaxed, or really sure nothing can go wrong.

But things can go very wrong for people who drive after taking drugs. Feeling ‘unreal’ may be fine when you’re partying, or listening to music, or just chilling with your mates. But when you’re behind the wheel of a car, we need you in the real world.

Think you’re a responsible and safe drug user? Then you’ll know, you can tell yourself some dangerous porkies when you’re high. The trick is not to believe them.

Below are some common myths about drug use and driving. Many people believe these myths, especially when they’re a little bit buzzed, but there’s a lot of reliable research that says reality is very different.

 

  1. Myth: Drug Driving isn't a problem in New Zealand

    New Zealand research found that people who drive under the influence of drugs think it’s a relatively safe thing to do.  But in fact, it’s not.

  2. Myth: I drive better when I'm stoned

    The evidence suggests you only think you do, and that could be the cannabis talking. Cannabis impaired drivers are more likely to cause car crashes than people who aren’t stoned,

  3. Myth: I'm safer because pot makes me drive slower

    The truth is your reaction time has slowed down even more than your driving speed, and your attempts to compensate for your impairment won’t be enough to keep you safe. 

  4. Myth: Stimulants improve my driving

    Party drugs may make you think you’re a better driver, but they may not be telling you the truth.

  5. Myth: My pill's effects have worn off so I'll be fine to drive now

    Actually, while you’re coming down is one of the worst times to think about driving. If you’ve been partying all night on stimulants then your body is going to crash.

  6. Myth: If I only have a couple of beers and a couple of tokes, I'll be sweet to drive

    Even small amounts of cannabis combined with small amounts of alcohol can get you pretty wasted. Alcohol and cannabis have a cumulative effect on each other.

  7. New Zealand's Drug Driving Laws

    The Land Transport Amendment Act 2009 (LTAA), which came into force on 1 November, allows Police to better detect drug drivers and charge them with the offence of ‘driving while impaired