Signs of Drug Driving

What signs do the police look out for in trying to catch a drug driver?

The giveaway signs that the police will look out for when travelling behind a vehicle include: -

• driving unnecessarily slowly or too fast
• late braking
• deviating from the line
• not having headlights on at night
• turning wide on corners
• etc.

Driving is a multitask function. When a person is under the influence of a drug he can lose his ability to multitask. Accordingly the driver may keep to the speed limit but be unaware he is not keeping his vehicle within the lane or he may forget to put on his lights at night etc.

Once the police have stopped the vehicle they will be quick to determine the reason for the bad driving. In the absence of smelling alcohol on the driver's breath or if there is a negative roadside breath test for alcohol, the police will look for other signs of impairment.

Most drugs affect the central nervous system. Your eyes are a part of your central nervous system and will act as the most obvious sign as to whether you are under the influence of a drug. For example: cannabis can often cause eyelid tremors, reddening of the whites of the eyes, pupil dilation and nystagmus (flickering eyes). Other drugs such as: LSD, MDMA, cocaine and amphetamine can also cause the pupils to become dilated. Whereas heroin or methadone or strong painkillers may cause the pupils to constrict down to pinpoints.

Other tell tale signs may include the driver sweating profusely, slurred speech, appearing drowsy or unsteady on their feet and mental confusion.

Read more on how different drugs, such as cannabis and cocaine, affect your driving