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What is the law? What the law? It is anisoffence to drive, attempt to drive or It is an offence or attempt to drive intend to drivetoa drive vehicle while under thea vehicle while under uence of an to the influence ofthe an infl intoxicant* to ‘intoxicant’ the point that point that you cannot keepcontrol properover control the you cannot keep proper theover vehicle. vehicle. An ‘intoxicant’ includes alcohol, illegal drugs, and andincludes any combination of drugs or and *An medicine, ‘intoxicant’ alcohol, illegal drugs combination of drugs and alcohol. medicine and any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol. Drug driving and the law In Ireland, we have a twin-track approach to drug driving: It is against the law to: 1) drive under the influence of drugs (including prescribed drugs) where your driving is impaired to such an extent that you don’t have proper control of the vehicle; So, if you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines under the advice of your doctor or pharmacist, and so long as those medicines don’t impair your driving, you have nothing to be concerned about. If you are in any doubt, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about your concerns. A statutory medical exemption certificate is provided the law for people who have been prescribed Followforusinon: medicinal cannabinoids (medicinal marijuana) in Ireland. If this applies to you, you should carry the medical certificate with you while driving. 2) drive under the influence of certain drugs (regardless of driving performance) above specified levels. There are currently three drugs specified – cannabis, cocaine and heroin. If you are found to have any of these drugs above the specified limits, you can be prosecuted for drug driving with no proof of impairment necessary. This is the same as the law where a driver exceeds specified alcohol levels. New ‘preliminary’ drug test Drivers with medical conditions should continue to take their prescribed medications in accordance with healthcare advice and medical fitness-to-drive guidelines, which can be viewed at http://www.rsa.ie/ RSA/Licensed-Drivers/Safe-driving/Medical-Issues/ But be aware of how the drugs you are taking might affect your ability to drive. Medicines and driving Follow us on: Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre Road Safety Authority Páirc Ghnó Ghleann na Muaidhe, Cnoc an tSabhaircín, Bóthar Bhaile Átha Cliath, Béal an Átha, Co. Mhaigh Eo Moy Valley Buiness Park, Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo locall: 1890 50 60 80 fax: (096) 25 252 email: [email protected] website: www.rsa.ie April 2017 In April 2017, Gardaí were given new powers to conduct ‘Preliminary Drug Testing’ at the roadside or in Garda stations. This allows the Gardaí to establish checkpoints for testing drivers for drugs with similar powers to existing alcohol testing checkpoints. This system will allow Gardaí to test a driver’s saliva for cannabis, cocaine, opiates (for example, heroin, morphine) and benzodiazepines (for example, Valium). Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre Road Safety Authority Taking your medication as advised by your doctor can make driving safer and more comfortable in many medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, depression and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. It is important to take your medication as instructed by your doctor. It is also important not to stop taking your medication without advice, as unsupervised withdrawal of some medications (such as sleeping tablets and medications for anxiety) may also affect your driving ability. However, some medicines can have negative effects, and this leaflet aims to tell you what those medications are and what the effects can be. Medications that can have negative effects include: – If you are getting non-prescription medicines a pharmacy, check with the •from Medicines that are prescribed by pharmacist your doctor if the medicine affects driving. Be sure to tell •them Non-prescription medicinesyou fromare your what other medicines also pharmacy (often called ‘over-the-counter’ taking and ask if it is safe to drive when taking medicines) that combination. • Herbal medicines or supplements – Always check if drinking alcohol could affect Ifhow youatake more than one medicine, or take any medicine works. of them with alcohol, the harmful effects may be increased. – Remember that you may not always be aware your medicine is affecting your ability to Itif is an offence to drive while affected by medicines that reduce your ability to drive safely. drive safely. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medicine and the potential risk. reduce your driving ability. – •If you feel unwell Sleeping tablets or think your medicine may be affecting your ability to drive safely, don’t • Anti-depressants risk it, don’t drive. • Sedatives, tranquilisers or other medicines for anxiety •What Some pain killers is the law? •It is Some allergy or fever medicines an offence to hay drive, attempt to drive or intend to drive a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant* to the point that Follow instructions Always follow the instructions your doctor or pharmacist gives you. medicine affects driving. Be sure to tell •if the Some medicines for epilepsy them what other medicines you are also Always read the label and information leaflet with the medicine. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask your doctor or pharmacist. • Some medicines for high blood pressure or taking and ask if it is safe to drive when taking heart conditions that combination. • Some medicines for diabetes Check with your pharmacist If a medicine is prescribed by your doctor, always ask the doctor or pharmacist if the medicine will affect your driving. If it does, ask if you can take a different medicine instead. – This Always check if drinkingYou alcohol list is not complete. shouldcould checkaffect with your how a or medicine works. doctor pharmacist to find out if your particular medicines risk affecting your ability to drive safely. – Remember that you may not always be aware Medicines can affect different people in different if your medicine is affecting your ability to ways, so it is really important to talk to your doctor or drive safely.about Ask your doctor pharmacist pharmacist driving whileorusing the medicine. about your medicine and the potential risk. If you are getting non-prescription medicines from a check with the pharmacistmedicines if the medicine – pharmacy, If you are getting non-prescription affects Be sure to tell you are taking from adriving. pharmacy, check withthem the ifpharmacist and ask if it is safe tomedicines drive when – other If youmedicines, are getting non-prescription if the medicine affects driving. Be sure to tell taking that combination. from pharmacy, check withyou theare pharmacist them awhat other medicines also if the medicine affects driving. Be sure tell takingyour andmedicine ask if it is safe to drive whento taking Check them what other medicines you are also that combination. Always check if drinking alcohol could affect how the taking and ask ifTaking it is safe to drive when medicine works. alcohol along with taking ‘impairing is dangerous could could lead toaffect greater that combination. – medicines’ Always check if drinkingand alcohol You may need to take extra care when starting on some doctor or pharmacist – medicines. Never takeYour medicines prescribed or may advise you not to drive at all until you see how the medication is recommended for someone else. affecting you. – If you feel unwell or think your medicine may be what affecting drive safely,affect don’t my In wayyour canability thesetomedicines risk it, don’t drive. driving? Some medicines can make you feel sleepy, dizzy, or less alert or can affect your co-ordination. As a result, your judgement What is the and law?your driving skills can be affected. If you have any of the following effects from your It is an offence drive,toattempt to drive or reduced medication, yourto ability drive safely may be intend drive vehicle whilethe under the of drugs. and youtomay be adriving ‘under influence’ influence of an intoxicant* to the point that •youSleepiness or feeling cannot keep properdrowsy control over the vehicle. • Slower reaction times *An ‘intoxicant’ includes alcohol, illegal drugs and affect driving? – What Never medicines take medicines prescribed or The following medicines have side-effects that may recommended for someone else. How do I make sure I drive safely? •medicine Difficulty concentrating and any combination of drugs or of drugs alcohol.or feeling light-headed •andDizziness • Blurred vision • Confusion • Poor co-ordination • Nausea (feeling sick) • Feeling anxious, tense or aggressive impairment. ‘Impairing medicines’ are those that how a medicine works. have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, –– can If you are getting non-prescription medicines Always check if drinking alcohol could affect reduced co-ordination, impaired judgement and so on. pharmacy, check the pharmacist how aa medicine works. – from Remember that you maywith not always be aware if the medicine affects driving. Beability sure tototell Remember that you not always be aware if your medicine is may affecting your what other medicines you are also yoursafely. medicine affecting your ability to aware drive safely. – ifthem Remember that may not always be drive Askisyou your doctor or pharmacist Tell-tale signs include near misses, hitting the taking and ask if it is safe to drive when taking if your medicine is affecting your ability to kerb, or about your medicine and the potential risk. having difficulty performing tasks that are normally that combination. drive safely. Ask your doctor or pharmacist easy for you to do. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about about your medicine the potential risk. – your Never take medicines prescribed or medicine and the and potential risk. – Always check if drinking alcohol could affect recommended for someone else. how atake medicine works. medicines prescribed or or recommended for – Never Never take medicines prescribed someone else. for someone else. – recommended If you feel unwell or think your medicine may – Remember that may not always be aware affecting youryou drive safely, don’t Ifbeyou feel unwell orability think to your medicine may be if your medicine is affecting your ability tomay – If you feel unwell or think your medicine risk yourdrive. ability to drive safely, Follow usaffecting on: it, don’t drive safely. your doctor or pharmacist be affecting your ability to drive safely, don’t don’t risk it – Ask don’t drive. about your medicine and the potential risk. risk it, don’t drive. What is the law? – Never take medicines prescribed or It is an offence to drive, attempt to drive or recommended someone else. What isto thedrive law?aforvehicle intend while under the influence of an intoxicant* to the to point that It is an offence to drive, attempt drive or – intend If you feel unwell or think yourunder medicine may you cannot keepa proper control over the to drive vehicle while the vehicle. be affecting your ability to to drive don’t influence of an intoxicant* thesafely, point that *An ‘intoxicant’ includes alcohol,over illegal and risk cannot it, don’tkeep drive. you proper control the drugs vehicle. Updated by McBrinns Print Solutions December 2014 Taking medication can both increase or reduce your ability to drive safely. • Many cough and cold remedies (can cause drowsiness or poor co-ordination) medicines – If you are getting non-prescription •from Some anti-nauseacheck medicines a pharmacy, with the pharmacist Updated by McBrinns Print Solutions December 2014 Medicines and Driving