Deaths caused by drug-impaired driving have soared 164 percent in the past decade, official records show.
Drug driving deaths currently account for eight percent of road deaths, with cocaine and cannabis being the most commonly detected substances.
Analysis of the latest data on road accident victims in the UK shows that in 2014 there were 47 fatal drug-related accidents, but by 2023 the figure had risen to 124.
According to Government data, there was a 38 percent increase in fatal drug-related accidents in just 12 months between 2022 and 2023.
Drivers between 20 and 29 years old were the most likely to test positive for illegal drugs, an age group that also has a higher prevalence of drug use.
During the period analyzed, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cannabis, morphine and ketamine were the drugs most detected in the deceased drivers.
Cocaine, used by 5.1 percent of people ages 16 to 24, is a powerful simulant that can impair people’s judgment and lead to reckless overconfidence.
Direct Line Motor Insurance analysis reveals an increase in overall collisions attributed to drug driving, a 170 percent increase in less than a decade, from 684 in 2014 to 1,853 in 2023.
In the 12 months ending March 2023, approximately 3.1 million people aged 16 to 59 (9.5 per cent of the population) were reported to be using illicit drugs in England and Wales, which may explain the Dramatic increase in the number of accidents caused by people driving under the influence of drugs.
However, the prevalence of drug use was highest among people aged 16 to 24 in the same period: about 1 million people (17.6 percent of the population) reported having used a drug.
During the period analyzed, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cannabis, morphine and ketamine were the drugs most detected in the deceased drivers.
Cocaine, used by 5.1 percent of people ages 16 to 24, is a powerful simulant that can impair people’s judgment and lead to reckless overconfidence.
Cannabis, which is the most widely used drug in England and Wales and used by 15.4 per cent of people aged 16 to 24, can slow reaction time, reduce coordination and distort people’s perception of life. the road.
Matt Pernet, director of Direct Line Motor Insurance, said: “Anyone who gets behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs is making a terrible decision, which can have life-altering consequences for themselves and other road users.”
“While there is a misconception that some illegal drugs can keep you alert, their use is not only illegal, it can also significantly impair your ability to drive.
‘As well as taking illegal drugs, in England, Scotland and Wales it is also illegal to drive after taking legal prescription medicines, if they impair driving.
“Penalties range from a minimum of a one-year driving ban, fines, up to six months in prison and a criminal record.”