Alcohol, Drugs and Driver Fitness
Driving demands full attention, quick judgement and steady coordination. Anything that dulls these makes you a danger, whether it is alcohol, drugs, illness, fatigue or strong medication.
Alcohol
Alcohol slows reaction time, narrows attention, reduces coordination and gives false confidence. Its effects begin well before you feel drunk, and they do not disappear with coffee, food or a cold shower. The only safe approach is not to drink at all if you will drive. In PNG, drink-driving is a serious offence and police can require a breath test; refusing or failing carries heavy penalties.
Drugs and medication
Illegal drugs and misuse of prescription medicine impair driving just as alcohol does. Many common medicines - antihistamines, strong painkillers, some cough syrups - cause drowsiness. Read the label and ask a pharmacist or doctor whether you can drive. Combining alcohol with any drug multiplies the impairment.
Fitness to drive
Do not drive when you are very tired, emotionally distressed, or unwell enough that your concentration or vision is affected. Fatigue is a major contributor to crashes: the only remedy is sleep. If you feel drowsy, stop somewhere safe and rest. Poor eyesight must be corrected with glasses or lenses, and you must wear them whenever you drive.
Trap to watch: questions offer "cures" for alcohol or fatigue - coffee, fresh air, loud music, splashing water. None work. The only safe answer is not to drive, or to stop and rest.
Rule of thumb: if you would not trust yourself to drive a stranger's children, you are not fit to drive.