How to deal with accidents with drug-drivers

We are all aware of the negative influence that alcohol has on our ability to drive safely, and the seriousness of the implications of drink-driving, but are we sufficiently aware of another dangerous road issue – drug-driving?

Research has found that more than a quarter of young people in London know someone who has driven after taking illegal substances, with one in ten admitting that their friends regularly drive under the influence of drugs. Shockingly, the number of victims found to have drugs in their system has risen six-fold in the past 20 years – with 18% of the drivers who died on our roads between 1996-2000 having had illegal drugs in their system.

Punishment for a person caught driving under the influence of drugs is identical to drink-driving and could involve in the loss of a driving licence, a £5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.

And it isn’t just illegal drugs that affect drivers’ response rates, sight and capabilities; worryingly there are also a number of prescribed drugs that can impinge on people’s driving abilities. These medications include anti-depressants, painkillers, anti-histamines and cough mixtures, all of which have a sedative effect, and yet most people taking such drugs are likely to be unaware that is not safe for them to drive.

Maria Wyatt, spokesperson for Zurich Insurance commented: “ Driving under the influence of drugs has become a serious concern for our road-safety, as it is accepted to be contributing to a growing number of accidents.

“We also recommend that those people who are on prescribed medication should consult their doctor before getting behind the wheel of a car.

“Zurich supports any steps to positively reduce casualties on the road, and we would very much welcome any new measures within the Road Safety Bill to combat drug-driving. We also call upon better police road-side detection techniques, as it is widely accepted that the current tests are not sufficiently stringent as some drug-drivers are remaining undetected.”

If you are in an accident with a driver who you suspect may be under the influence of drugs, Zurich suggests taking the following action:

Stay calm. If you suspect the driver has taken drugs and if anyone is injured, notify the police and emergency services immediately.

You should always keep a pen and paper in your car. Make sure you take a note of the make, model and registration number of the other car. Someone under the influence of drugs may panic and attempt to drive off from the situation, so it is important to act quickly.

Try to remain calm and focused. People who have taken drugs can behave erratically - it is safer to let the police deal with them.

Ask the driver for their insurance details and get their name, address and telephone number (home and work). If they’re unable or unwilling to tell you these details, wait for the police to arrive.

Draw a sketch of the accident scene and take photos of the damage to the car. Try to keep a disposable camera in the glove box of your car, or use a camera phone. This will help your insurance company work out exactly what happened when you make a claim.

Find as many witnesses as you can at the scene and gather their names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Be careful of what you say and don’t make accusations. Wait until the police arrive and withhold your comments for the time being.

If the police are not summoned at the accident site, you may make a police report within 24 hours of the accident at the nearest police station.

At the earliest opportunity write down your version of the incident. This will help keep the situation clear in your head, as well as making your account of the event as accurate as possible. Make a note of the date and time.

Inform your insurance company of the incident as soon as possible – this is a requirement of most insurance policies in any circumstance.