15% of young drivers admit to having driven after consuming drugs in 2023, according to a study conducted by the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge (VSV).
VSV surveyed 544 Flemish drivers aged between 18 and 35 in January. While 85% said they did not drive after taking drugs, 28% said they had consumed drugs in the past year and 15% admitted to driving while intoxicated.
This behaviour was more apparent among men (22%) than women (7%). The most common substances taken were a combination of drugs and alcohol (8%), cannabis (7%) and a mixture of various substances (6%).
Those who professed to driving under the influence engage in habitual drug use and tend to believe that driving while intoxicated is common practice. Over half of these respondents said they drove within four hours of consumption, and said they took drugs knowing that they would be driving later.
While VSV notes that only a minority of young drivers are at fault, the organisation nonetheless finds the results "highly concerning". "Cannabis prolongs reaction time, slows reflexes, and reduces coordination ability," explained traffic safety expert Werner De Dobbeleer.
"Alternating between slow and faster driving, unpredictable reactions and falling asleep at the wheel are also possible. Cocaine and speed cause fast and aggressive driving and can even lead to hallucinations."
In this context, "campaigns and stringent measures around this issue are essential," says De Dobbeleer. VSV has launched a campaign aimed at young people to encourage them to plan a safe route home after a night out.
