Many young motorists driving after taking drugs

Date: 4/1/2012

Many young people are putting their safety at risk by getting behind the wheel after taking drugs.

Figures from road safety charity Brake and Direct Line revealed 11 per cent of motorists aged between 17 and 25 have driven after using illegal drugs in the past year.

This was up from the nine per cent of individuals who admitted to the same thing four years ago.

Some three per cent of young drivers revealed they head out on the road after taking drugs at least once a month and the organisations are calling on the government to address current loopholes in the law regarding the issue.

Senior Campaigns Officer at Brake Ellen Booth said the consequences of this can be "devastating."

"We need a ban on driving with illegal drugs in your system and we need roadside drugalysers. The longer this takes, the more lives will be violently and tragically lost," she added.

This comes after a study from the same groups discovered 12 per cent of people incorrectly think they can consume three or more units of alcohol and still drive safely.

Posted by Sarah Bailey