Illegal drug use is a growing problem in traffic. Of all drivers who were checked for drugs after the reggae festival in Geel (province of Antwerp), half (52 of 103) were found to be under the influence.
A 2018 international survey showed that 4.8% of Belgian respondents drove an hour after using drugs. By the time researchers released a new study in 2023, that figure had risen to 8.5 percent.
Most of them are men
An average of 35 drivers are caught driving under the influence of drugs every day, compared to an average of ‘only’ 20 per day five years ago. Nine out of ten drivers caught under the influence of drugs are men, and more than half are under 30, according to statistics from the federal police. Anyone caught with drugs immediately loses their driver’s license for fifteen days and must then appear before the police judge.
Police judges have long been warning about the enormous increase in drug (ab)use behind the wheel and the young age of many offenders. Traffic experts also warn of problems, as figures indicate that one in six drivers often combines multiple drugs. And that mix, of course, increases the risk of accidents.
Cannabis and cocaine
People who get behind the wheel under the influence of cannabis are twice as likely to have an accident with death or serious injuries as a sober driver. Cannabis disrupts your concentration and slows your reaction time. The drug also makes it harder to judge distances and speeds.
When using cocaine, the risk of an accident is two to ten times higher, and when using amphetamines, the risk increases five to thirty times. However, a significant number of drivers underestimate the dangers of drug use in traffic. And that group is by no means limited to festival visitors.
Reduced reaction time
Perhaps a bit of perspective is in order, as drug testing only indicates whether someone has used drugs, but not how much. So maybe not everyone was truly “stoned” behind the wheel. However, even a minimum level of drugs in the body still leads to a reduced reaction time in traffic, especially if the driver is tired.
Drug use itself is also relatively limited. While 80% of Belgians drank alcohol at least once in the past year, ‘only’ 7% of the population smoked cannabis during that period.
More checks and stricter approach
Large-scale awareness campaigns are, therefore, not an option. Continuing to emphasize the dangers of combined use and sufficiently highlighting the risks of drunk driving could potentially prevent a great deal of suffering.
The Road Safety Institute Vias emphasizes the need for more drug checks on the roads. Vias also advocates for more available and more effective drug tests: many ‘modern’ drugs cannot be detected with the current classic saliva test.
Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has announced a stricter approach and more checks. Another option is to immediately revoke the driver’s license of anyone caught for a month. There are also plans to test for both alcohol and drugs in the future.
