Picture this, dead of the night and disco ball police lights flashing. An officer, sensing something wrong in the vehicle he has approached. Driver off his head is what the gut feeling has him thinking. There’s no smell of alcohol, no cans rolling around open. What now?
Enter the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). Like an ace detective of the road, these pros use their skills to figure out which drivers are under the influence of drugs.

DREs are not your average policeman either. These guys go through serious training, it’s like peeling features of an onion away. Don’t kid yourself, they’re not playing a guessing game. They follow a precise 12-step method to put together the pieces of the puzzle from observing driver behaviour and checking vitals to performing a series of tests. It’s practically like giving a roadside health check!

The one story my friend Charlie shared still stays with me to this day. Pulled over one evening due to his driving style being likened to dodging invisible potholes, he was sure that he was simply tired. DRE found something else. After few tests, drug use was detected. “But I wasn’t drinking” Charlie argued, DRE had the perfect reply; “True. But you were riding high my friend”. Nowadays Charlie jokes about it but has a lot of respect for the guy who caught him with such quick thinking.

So, what’s the big deal with having a DRE anyway. Traffic safety isn’t only about catching people who are speeding like a bat out of hell. It’s also about stopping those under different influences completely. While breathalyzers are great for catching drunks, DREs help us tackle a wide range of drugs, especially now as prescription and recreational drug increases.

Think for a moment next time you’re behind the wheel. The person beside you might be off-kilter without even one drop of booze. In the middle of all the driving craziness and honking, we have experts working diligently almost like hawks to make sure our ride is less bumpy. Knowing a DRE is on duty will give you a real sense of ease next time you’re blazing through in your car or cruising around in the old wagon.