It's unsafe to drive if you take medication that impairs your driving ability. It’s also against the law to drive when you’re impaired.
Resources for drivers taking medicationMany prescribed medications, and medications purchased over-the counter, can impair your driving just as much as alcohol and recreational drugs. Find out more in our information brochure: Download information brochure [PDF, 194 KB] You can also order printed copies of the brochure. Search for 'Are you safe to drive' and complete your details. |
Impaired driving is when your body or emotions have been affected (usually temporarily) in a way that makes you an unsafe driver.
You need to make sure you’re safe to drive before you get in the car.
Many prescribed medications (or those purchased over-the-counter) can impair your driving, as can many recreational drugs and alcohol.
A car crash can happen very unexpectedly. If you’re not fully alert you could be a danger to yourself, other drivers or your passengers. Reactions times are really slowed when they’re impaired.
It's important you talk honestly with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about your medication (and anything else you're taking) so they can help you stay safe on the road.
Watch more videos on substance impaired driving(external link)
You need to talk to them about your situation and your medications, as not every medication will impair driving. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse to help decide whether it’s safe for you to drive.
To avoid driving while impaired you may need to:
Research shows your chances of having a crash if you're impaired by your medication are much higher than previously thought.
The risk multiplies if you mix alcohol with medication or drugs that may impair driving. It can make you 23 times more likely to fatally crash than drivers who have taken none of these.
In New Zealand 1 in 13 drivers killed on our roads were using strong medication that can impair driving at the time of their crash.
Talk to the people you live with about how your medications may impair your driving so they can share the driving whenever you need them to.
Think about the following scenarios: