Hashishi

Loved ones 'lost to drug-driving'
Police are targeting drivers under the influence of drugs as part of a summer crackdown in England and Wales. They say drug-driving is a "growing problem" and can be as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol.
7-30-'07 | BBC News

Anne Maria Rennie, 56, of Peebles, Peeblesshire, lost her daughter, Chantelle Shalice, 35, and two-year-old granddaughter, Ellora, in a car accident in Australia.

Chantelle, who her mother said "was a good girl who never gave me a day's trouble" was killed instantly. Ellora died four days later.

"Chantelle had been around the world, done more in her life than most people do in an entire lifetime," Mrs Rennie said. "She had got married and gone to Australia to start a new life."

Their car was hit by another vehicle that had lost control at a roundabout. The other driver was found to have smoked cannabis the night before the accident.

"The police report said he had a quantity of marijuana in his system, which they said was a significant factor in the crash," said Mrs Rennie. "He also had a history of driving offences."

The driver was imprisoned for five years, but later had his sentenced increased as the prosecutors said it was too lenient.

"I did write to the boy, trying to explain our loss and that we now had to live without Chantelle for the rest of our lives. He replied, saying that he had smoked the drug the night before so he didn't think it mattered.

"But if you take drugs before you drive, you're impairing your ability. You're turning that car into a lethal weapon.

"Even if you drink or take drugs the night before, it still can have an effect and I don't think people realise how much.

"You wouldn't do drink or drugs the night before doing your driving test."

Mrs Rennie does not believe the police's field impairment test on those suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which includes eye pupils' examination, standing on one leg and walking in a straight line, is sufficient.

"It's ludicrous if you ask me," she said. "I don't think getting someone to stand on one leg at the side of the road will help.

"You really do have to get the agreement of the general public and make them realise the severity of their actions.

"By taking drink or drugs before driving they're putting other people's lives at risk even more than their own.

"It's a privilege to drive a car and people take it for granted. People feel invincible. There's a lot of aggression in driving and children are learning that by seeing what their parents do.

"Children are also seeing their parents drink and maybe do some kind of drug at home before driving, which normalises the issue."

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