“On Thursday 7 March 2024, South Australia Police launched a new road safety campaign that confronts drivers with the harsh reality of driving on drugs.

The new campaign sends a strong message highlighting the differences between tragic reality and drug drivers’ indifference to safety, showing that “Reality Hits Hard When You Drive on Drugs”.

Targeting those who are most represented in road trauma, male drug users between 20 and 40 years of age, the campaign was designed to address both users of meth and weed in two separate advertisements, each speaking to the driving characteristics of each target group.

Traffic Services Branch Officer in Charge, Superintendent Darren Fielke said crash and enforcement data clearly shows that despite what drug users may believe, driving with illicit drugs in their system clearly impairs the ability to drive safely and that police are actively detecting and prosecuting drivers who choose to drive after drug use.

“Typically, we hear cannabis users say they are more cautious when driving and try not to attract attention while drivers or riders who have taken methamphetamine perceive themselves as alert and responsive.”

Find more from South Australia Police (Australia, March 2024)