What types of drugs can affect a persons driving ability?
Over-the-counter and prescription medications can both affect a person’s driving ability. Drugs that can impair driving are those which affect the central nervous system, resulting in poor reasoning and slowed reactions. These drugs include: sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs, stimulants, and antihistamines. Because these drugs can be obtained through prescriptions or over-the-counter, people tend to underestimate the effect these drugs can have on their ability to drive safely. Alcohol is a sedative drug. It acts very much like other drugs such as valium and other tranquilizers to put the brain to sleep. This sedation greatly impairs a person’s ability to perform complex tasks such as driving a car. Driving requires the ability to take in and process information about our surroundings. We must also have the ability to quickly and accurately analyze that information, so the brain must be alert and in top condition. When the brain decides some action is required, the nervous system and muscl
