Imagine if you had to tell a family that their child was never coming home again...because a driver had a few too many drinks and they were too lazy to get a taxi? How would you feel if it was your child? Your brother, your parent, your best friend? Now imagine that you're the one who had a few drinks and thought...Home isn't too far. I'll make it without getting busted. While on the back streets worrying if the booze bus will catch you, you hit someone. How do you live with that for the rest of your life?
A tragic accident in Bexleyheath has shed new light on drug-driving risks as a bus driver, Martin Asolo-Agogua, pleaded guilty to causing the death of nine-year-old Ada Bicakci. The Bus driver cannabis death occurred when the driver, high on cannabis, struck Ada and her brother on Watling Street on the 3rd of August 2023. The heartbreaking incident resulted in Ada’s death two days later, while her younger brother survived the hit.
Ada, a bright and energetic gymnast and swimmer, has left her family and community grieving. She attended a local school and embraced her love of sports with an active spirit. Following her passing, her family donated her organs, saving the lives of six other children—a profound act of generosity during their darkest days.
Fatal Consequences of Cannabis Use While Driving : Driving under the influence of cannabis significantly reduces reaction times, coordination, and perception, all of which are crucial to safe driving. Court revelations showed that the driver, Martin Asolo-Agogua, had not slept the night before the crash and had consumed cannabis, an act that undoubtedly impaired his ability to drive safely. At Woolwich Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.
The court has informed Asolo-Agogua that a prison sentence is inevitable and has imposed an interim driving ban on him while he awaits sentencing on 9th June.
Rising Tragedy of Drug-Driving in the UK: The sad reality of Ada’s death is part of a broader issue that is escalating on UK roads. Deaths and injuries attributable to cannabis-related deaths and drug-driving crashes have increased sharply over the last decade.
Drug-Driving Fatalities on the Rise
- Drug-driving fatalities have increased by 164% over the last decade, with 124 deaths in 2023 compared to 47 in 2014.
- Such accidents now constitute 8% of all road fatalities in the UK, underscoring the urgent need for proactive measures to combat drug-driving.
- Among the most common drugs linked to these incidents are cocaine, cannabis, morphine, and ketamine, all of which severely impair driving capabilities.
Impact by Age Groups
Statistics reveal that the most affected age group is 20-29 years, followed by drivers aged 30-39. Many cannabis users in these age ranges often underestimate the significant dangers of impaired driving, believing false claims that driving under the influence of cannabis is safer.
Broader Implications of Drug-Driving: Drug use not only contributes to life-altering accidents but impacts countless families, leads to legal trouble, prison sentences, and spikes in insurance costs. Misconceptions around cannabis consumption being “harmless” have contributed to these issues, especially considering the drug’s legalisation in various contexts worldwide.
Matt Pernet, Head of Direct Line Motor Insurance, has reiterated the severe risks associated with drug-impaired driving, saying, “Anyone that gets behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs is making a terrible decision, which can have life-altering consequences for themselves and others.”
Educating Communities About Cannabis-Related Death Risks: The untimely loss of Ada Bicakci serves as a grave reminder of the need for more robust community awareness and legal measures to tackle drug-driving. It is vital to dispel myths around cannabis and its effect on individuals’ ability to drive safely.
Communities, law enforcement, and policymakers must collectively work to ensure drivers understand the legal and moral consequences of drug use. By implementing steadfast prevention efforts, enforcing stricter laws, and launching sustained education campaigns, they can protect lives, especially in response to incidents like the Bus driver cannabis death in Bexleyheath. (Source: WRD News)
