Which of these statements is true about drugs and driving?
Answers
Any prescription drug is safe to use if you don’t feel drowsy.
Even over-the-counter drugs can impair your driving.
Only illegal drugs can impair your driving.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct statement is: “Even over-the-counter drugs can impair your driving.”
Explanation:
When it comes to driving, many people assume that only illegal drugs are a threat to safety on the road. However, this is a misconception. Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can significantly impair a person’s ability to drive safely.
1. Prescription Drugs: Many prescription medications, including those for pain relief, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, can impair cognitive and motor functions. Drugs like opioids, benzodiazepines, and certain antidepressants may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or slowed reaction times, making it dangerous to operate a vehicle. The effects of these drugs vary depending on the individual, the dosage, and whether they are combined with alcohol or other substances.
2. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs: OTC medications, such as antihistamines, cold medicines, and sleep aids, can also impair driving. Common side effects of these medications include drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating. For example, some common antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl), are known to cause drowsiness and should not be taken before driving. Even non-drowsy formulas may cause other impairments like delayed reaction times.
3. Legal vs. Illegal Drugs: It is important to understand that legal drugs—whether prescribed or available over-the-counter—can still impair your ability to drive, just like illegal drugs. While illegal substances (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, and heroin) are often associated with dangerous driving, the impairment from legal drugs can be just as severe. Driving under the influence of any substance that affects your mental or physical ability to operate a vehicle is unsafe and illegal.
In summary, even legal medications—prescription or OTC—can affect your ability to drive safely. It’s essential to read labels, consult with a doctor or pharmacist, and avoid driving if you are uncertain about how a medication may affect you.