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CHAPTER 7: EXPERIENCES OF PASSENGERS
Objectives
The objectives of this chapter are to:
- consider the experiences of passengers identified in the survey
- gain further detail on the experiences of passengers by looking at the depth interviews
- look at passengers' views of campaigns to stop drug driving
Key Findings
Survey
13% of survey respondents had been a passenger in a car driven by someone impaired by drugs.
More passengers reported that they were concerned with the ability of a drug driver, than the actual drivers did, indicating a disparity in perceptions of driving ability.
Depth interviews
Consistent with the findings of the survey, some passengers expressed concern over the effect of drugs on driving ability.
Passengers thought that increased law enforcement and advertising campaigns may be effective at getting some people to stop drug driving.
Passengers identified by the survey
From the survey, 13% of respondents reported being a passenger in a car when the driver was impaired by drugs. Almost a third (31%) of these respondents had also drug driven and three quarters (76%) had ever used drugs. This suggests that there is significant overlap between these groups.
The passengers were also asked how worried or concerned they had been about the person's driving. Around half (48%) were very or fairly concerned about the person's driving and a similar proportion (51%) were not very or not at all concerned. When the drivers were asked how worried or concerned their passengers seemed, only 10% reported them as very or fairly concerned and 90% said they were not at all concerned. This disparity between drivers' and their passengers' levels of concern indicates that drug use may have more of a detrimental effect on driving than some believe.
Depth interviews with passengers
Twenty passengers were also interviewed for the qualitative part of this research. The individuals interviewed ranged from those who were problematic drug users to individuals who had either used or not used recreational drugs. There were, as might be expected, notable differences in the attitudes and experiences of individuals who had been driven by someone impaired by drugs depending upon their own drug use and the drug use of the driver involved.
The most uncompromising views were from those who had not personally used illegal drugs but who had been driven on occasion by an impaired driver. It was a common view among this group that drug driving was irresponsible and dangerous.
There's absolutely no need for it. Ah think it's despicable basically… ah think that anyone who drives after using drugs no matter who they are or what drugs they've taken they're unfit to drive full stop, end of story…they all drive the same way: irresponsibly, erratically and with total disregard to any other road users or for that matter pedestrian.
Passenger of a recreational drug user
Some of the passengers who were recreational drug users also seemed a little wary of drug driving and thought it could be dangerous. Particular comment was made on the erratic driving style of individuals who were using drugs.
And they can drive mad. You know when they're scoring. You know what I mean. They'll just leave the car in the middle of the road and jump out of it running up to the dealer's door and that. Oh its foot down all the way. And tunnel vision. Do you know what I mean? You daren't speak
Passenger of a recreational drug user
Those who were problem drug users reported that they had frequently been a passenger of a drug driver, often for the purpose of obtaining drugs. Like the other two types of passenger, the passengers in this group recognised that illegal drugs can have an impact on an individual's ability to drive. However, this impact was viewed differently depending on factors such as the drugs involved and the driver's own drug using history. For example, heroin use by someone with a well developed heroin habit was regarded as having relatively little or no impact on driving ability. On the other hand, drugs such as cocaine or valium were seen as severely compromising driving ability. This is consistent with problem drug users' views.
Like for somebody like you who's never done it, for you to go and take heroin and drive then obviously your driving would be ---. But like I'm saying when you've got a habit on heroin you really need to take it to function through the day and just feel normal.
Passenger of a problem drug user
Well see with heroin I believe that if you've no had too much of it. I mean if you've got a habit on heroin then you're jist taking a bit to pull yerself together. To make you sort of normal eh. So if there driving like that then it's just like a normal drive in the street. But with valium you're just far over confident. I mean you're just sort of like being drunk really. Maybe even worse really
Passenger of a problem drug user
Campaigns to Stop Drug driving
During the depth interviews the passengers were asked what could be done to discourage drug driving.
There was considerable agreement amongst passengers that the police should be allowed to carry out random tests to identify individuals who are driving under the influence of illegal drugs. This is in line with the views of drivers.
In addition to increased enforcement, a number of passengers also commented on the value of advertising campaigns. Particular mention was made of those that portrayed the consequences of drug driving in very graphic terms.
The ones they used tae dae wi the smashed car lying at the side of the road where they show you the real effect of it. Just putting up a sign is nae use, they need tae let ye see the affects what happens in an accident. Like the advert on telly the one wi the boy sittin wi the foil and everything disappearing around him they should also show more things like that but harder show it a lot harder show him lying in a --- daze the syringe hanging out his arm and that cos it just disnae go far enough. They're getting better at it but they need to go much further and show the real thing that happens.
Passenger
Although the public often supports graphic advertising as a deterrent, it is widely recognised within the road safety profession that while this type of advertising is widely remembered it is ineffective in changing behaviour. Irrespective of the success of such campaigns, or the success of the police in identifying drug drivers, some individuals, especially problem drug users, would continue to drive under the influence of illegal drugs.
Well you see because you're on heroin even if they do bring a test out where they can ken you're on heroin, there and then you're just desperate tae get your bit of heroin anyway. So it probably willnae stop the average heroin user. But I mean someone who's using drugs recreationally it'll help.
Passenger
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