We Need To Talk About Drug Driving
Festivals have long been associated with hedonism. They are a space outside of the real world, where the sound of cans cracking open at 8 a.m. goes unnoticed, and drug use, whether openly shared among friends or discreetly stashed in bumbags and tents, is part of the backdrop. But once the music stops, and the drive home begins – the real world returns. If you’re the one behind the wheel after a big weekend, the risks become very real.
Drug-driving arrests are on the rise in Ireland. By May this year, over 810 people had already been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. Nearly half of those arrested were under 30, and the most common substances detected were cannabis and cocaine. This is a pattern that has been accelerating in recent years prompting an increased response from the Gardaí. In 2023, Gardaí were supplied with 20,000 roadside drug testing kits. This year, that number has more than doubled to 45,000.
This testing is targeted, increasingly effective and, crucially, widely misunderstood. Any driver involved in a serious collision is now automatically tested, regardless of fault. The devices used can detect multiple types of drugs. Importantly, these tests don’t just measure whether you’re visibly impaired, they detect the presence of substances in your system which means that someone can test positive long after the effects of their drug-use wear off. The test can detect drugs like cocaine, cannabis, and MDMA for up to 24 hours after they have been taken. If you are taken to the station for a blood test, the detection timelines for these can be even longer.
However, beyond the issue of tests, it’s important to remember that drugs impact driving in serious ways. Stimulants like cocaine or MDMA can increase confidence and impulsivity, but once they wear off, the resulting crash often brings slowed reflexes and extreme fatigue, potentially hitting just as you’re getting behind the wheel after a festival. Cannabis and ketamine can delay reaction time, reduce coordination, and make complex driving tasks like merging or navigating junctions significantly harder.
Driving is never a simple task, not on unfamiliar roads, not in bad weather, and not when you’re tired or distracted. Add drugs to the mix, and you’re not just gambling with your licence, you’re gambling with the safety of you, your mates, and everyone else on the road.
We’re not here to tell anyone how to have fun at a festival. But don’t get behind the wheel until it’s truly out of your system and you’re fit to drive. Better yet, if you know you’re going to be using drugs: don’t drive. Plan in advance, arrange a lift, take a taxi, use public transport, always protect yourself and everyone else on the road. Don’t risk it.
The party’s not worth it if it ends with flashing lights for all the wrong reasons.
Make it home in one piece. Your weekend is only as good as the safety of your ride home.
Learn more about road safety here.
