Along the A28 near Deventer the police stop a driver who has used drugs and alcohol. The test measures a small amount of both substances. The driver says: 'For each substance I am still under the normal limit.' What applies?
- He is not punishable: each substance is checked separately against its own normal limit
- He is only punishable if at least one substance goes above its own normal limit
- ✓ He is punishable after all: with drugs and alcohol together each substance has a zero limit
Correct answer: He is punishable after all: with drugs and alcohol together each substance has a zero limit
Explanation
False — you think one substance must first go above its normal limit. With drugs and alcohol together, the lowest measurable amount of each substance is already the limit, even if neither substance reaches its normal limit
Why learners get this wrong
- Wrong: you check each substance on its own against its normal limit. Anyone who uses drugs and alcohol together gets the lowest measurable amount of each substance as the limit: in practice a zero limit. If a substance is measured, that is already too much
- Wrong: you think one substance must first go above its normal limit. With drugs and alcohol together, the lowest measurable amount of each substance is already the limit, even if neither substance reaches its normal limit
Topic: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
Read the rule: Core: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
Sections
- Challenge: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
- The model: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
- Core: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
- Why it matters: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
- Active recall: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
- Teach back: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker
- Memory hook: Medicines, drugs and the yellow sticker