The Unpredictable Dangers of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

KatadataOTO – A fatal accident involving a Toyota Calya and a Honda Beat occurred in Pekanbaru, Riau on Wednesday (1/1). The police stated that the driver of the four-wheeled vehicle was intoxicated.

Antoni Romansyah (44) and his female passenger had previously admitted to coming from a nightclub. They had consumed alcohol as well as drugs.

“They used methamphetamine in Palembang, then stopped at a nightclub in Pekanbaru before the accident occurred,” said AKP Bagus Faria, Head of the Narcotics and Prohibited Drugs Unit of the Pekanbaru City Police, as quoted by Antara.

Then Antoni drove the white-colored car at high speed. Upon arriving at Jalan Hangtuah, Tenayan Raya District, Pekanbaru City, the vehicle changed lanes.

Photo : Antara

It then crashed into a motorcycle in the opposite direction, causing the death of a family of three.

For his actions, Antoni was taken to the police station. He was questioned and held responsible for the incident.

Based on the above, an observer mentioned that driving while intoxicated carries a very high risk of causing an accident.

“Driving while intoxicated or on drugs is more dangerous than being drowsy or experiencing microsleep. The driver hallucinates because their nervous system is impaired, causing changes in behavior, consciousness, and self-control,” said Sony Susmana, Training Director of Safety Defensive Consultant Indonesia (SDCI), to KatadataOTO on Thursday (2/1).

Sony explained that several things can happen when driving a car while intoxicated. First, balance is impaired, so the vehicle's direction becomes uncontrolled.

For example, swerving erratically or in various directions, putting other drivers on the road in great danger.

Then, vision becomes blurry, making it impossible to read surrounding objects. This poses a high risk of hitting other road users, like in the accident in Pekanbaru.

Furthermore, reaction time is slow, so the ability to anticipate danger is reduced. Lastly, the driver's behavior is uncontrollable, with a tendency for unstable emotions.

Photo : Antara

If the things above occur, it is not impossible that an accident like the one in Pekanbaru cannot be avoided, even to the point of taking someone's life.

“A driver like this is easy to spot, but difficult to anticipate if they are coming from the opposite direction,” Sony stated.

Drivers of both four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles are urged not to consume alcohol or drugs when intending to drive a car or motorcycle on the highway.