applying your smart driving skills Illegal drugs  crash fact Cannabis Drugs and alcohol  Taking risks You in the driver’s seat 106 What kind of driving style do you plan to have? Do you want  to stay within your skill level? Do you think it is better to be  cautious rather than take too many chances? Driving attitude or  style is something you choose. A few people adopt a dangerous driving style, seeking out  excitement through speeding and taking risks. These people  are thrill-seekers — they enjoy speeding, tailgating or passing  unsafely.  New drivers differ in how they manage risk. You probably know  drivers who are unsure of what actions to take and are nervous  around other road users. These people lack confidence in their  skills. And then there are overconfident drivers — the ones who  think they are much better drivers than they really are. Both  overconfident drivers and those who lack confidence need to  learn more and take more time to practise their skills.  You’re alone and driving on a straight stretch of highway.  You’re tempted to floor it.  What choice will you make?  Many drugs will greatly increase impairment  when combined with even small amounts of  alcohol.  Cannabis may cause a driver to:  A driver who combines  alcohol and drugs is nine  times more likely to have a  crash than a sober driver.  Australian study, O. Drummer, 1994 Recreational or street drugs such as speed, heroin and cocaine  have a wide variety of effects including those noted under  Medications  on the previous page, as well as:  • hallucinations  • altered perception  • feelings of invincibility  • lack of judgment.  • have difficulty following the movement of vehicles or  pedestrians accurately  • misunderstand visual cues from the driving environment  • delay responses, especially in emergency situations. 