what are prescription drugs?

[lance4k]

there was an ad in the herald today from the police that said they will now be checking drivers who are impaired by using prescription drugs while driving? What are some of the prescription drugs?
If i have a sore throat and cough and the doctor gives me some pills, are they 'prescription drugs'?

[CYaBro]

I guess anything that will impair your driving.
The drugs container/box will say on it if you shouldn't operate heavy machinery after taking them, which would include driving.

[Trev]

Yes, but drugs that have side effects that make you sleepy or appear to be drunk. These sort of drugs usually come with a warning on the container they are in not to drive within so many hours of taking them.

[hueybot3000]

anything prescribed by a doctor is a prescription drug, im guessing by impaired they mean if your driving while feeling side effects of a drug (alot do warn of drowsiness etc) then you can be charged for being wreckless or whatever

[KarameaDave]

This from this site, EDIT A full list of prescription medicines that are included can be found in the Medicines Regulations. However, as noted, the Police will determine a target list for testing.
http://www.transport.govt.nz/legisla...reddrivinglaw/

Where a Police officer has “good cause to suspect” that a driver has consumed a drug or drugs, the officer may require the driver to take a compulsory impairment test.

Grounds for having good cause to suspect include erratic driving or, if the driver has been stopped for another reason, appearing to be under the influence of drugs. An example of the latter is the person stopped at an alcohol checkpoint who is behaving in an intoxicated manner but there is no evidence of drink driving.

If the driver does not satisfactorily complete the compulsory impairment test, the Police officer may forbid the driver to drive, and require the driver to provide a blood sample.




The compulsory test includes:

* an eye assessment – pupil size, reaction to light, lack of convergence, nystagmus (ie abnormal eye movement - irregular eye movement can be a marker for drug impairment)
* a walk and turn assessment
* a one leg stand assessment.

[coldot]

My doctor gave me a prescription today which included low dose aspirin tablets. I suppose you could say that was a 'prescription drug'. (Even though you can buy it in quantity at any supermarket.)
But the important aspect is how much of the drug you take and whether it has any effect on your performance as a driver. Ask your doctor! It is your responsibility to read and obey the instructions and to avoid driving if you feel more peculiar your normal self!

[Erayd]

...then you can be charged for being wreckless or whatever

And there was me thinking that being wreckless was a good thing!

[hueybot3000]

oh it certainly has its time and place, just not in car

[R2x1]

anything . . .
. . . then you can be charged for being wreckless or whatever

I always assumed wrecklesness was a fairly good thing to aim for

[Erayd]

oh it certainly has its time and place, just not in car

I think you missed my point:

Wreck: The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down; An event in which something is damaged through collision; To cause severe damage to something, to a point where it no longer works, or is useless; To ruin or dilapidate; etc

Reckless: disregard for or indifference to the dangers of a situation or for the consequences of one's actions; foolhardy: marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; "foolhardy enough to try to seize the gun from the hijacker"; etc

So evidently being wreckless in a car is an extremely good thing!