Fears over drug-drive culture

12:25am Tuesday 29th January 2008

Comments (28)   Have your say »

Road safety chiefs fear there is a "self- belief" among young drivers across the district that it is fine to drive after taking recreational drugs.

The claim comes after a survey revealed today that nearly one in ten young drivers had got behind the wheel while high on illegal drugs.

The national study, by road safety charity Brake and breakdown recovery firm Green Flag, showed worrying levels of risk-taking among under-25s.

Today the Bradford-based West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership said drug-driving was "definitely a factor" in the high number of deaths and serious injuries among young drivers in West Yorkshire.

Philip Gwynne, of the casualty reduction partnership, said: "There's a fallacy among a fair proportion of young drivers that they are okay to drive because they have taken recreational drugs and have not had a drink.

"However, some of these recreational drugs are as powerful as having several drinks because of the impairment factor.

"They take away the driver's judgement and make them think they are capable of things they are not. There's a self-belief among these road users that they are okay to drive because they haven't had a drink. It's definitely a factor in young driver crashes and casualties across West Yorkshire. It's a national picture, but West Yorkshire reflects that picture very strongly."

The latest study also showed that half of drivers aged under 25 have used hand-held mobile phones while driving, while one in three would overtake despite being unable to see what was coming.

Cathy Keeler, Brake's head of campaigns, said: "The Government must take steps to tackle extreme risk-taking and appalling numbers of deaths and injuries involving young drivers. We must educate young people on the consequences of taking these deadly risks and ensure we have a robust, structured system of learning to drive in place."

Brake wants the Government to introduce graduated driver licensing, which has been successfully introduced in New Zealand, Canada and the US. It could involve a minimum learner driver period after practical and theory tests have been passed.

The West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership said it had been targeting young drivers over the last year, making them the focus of a number of campaigns.

Last year, the partnership revealed that fatal crashes involving new young drivers in West Yorkshire had soared by nearly 50 per cent. And yesterday, the Telegraph & Argus revealed that Bradford had the worst four postcode areas in West Yorkshire for producing young drivers who get injured in car crashes.

Figures released on the same day showed that Bradford's suburbs were the worst in the county for people driving without insurance.

Mr Gwynne said all the statistics were inter-linked, with young drivers who "didn't give a damn" about compliance more likely to be involved in crashes.

e-mail: will.kilner @bradford.newsquest.co.uk