Students were given a view of the life-threatening risks of taking drugs before driving in a warning from firefighters.

Kent Fire and Rescue (KFRS) were at North Kent College’s Gravesend campus to press home the message that drugs and driving do not mix, aided by special headsets that simulate the way drugs impair people’s senses and judgment.

The youngsters struggled to even balance on one leg and walk in a straight line with the drugs goggles on.

It’s all part of a wider safety campaign — for KFRS, incidents on the roads are now an even bigger part of the remit than fires. The service’s figures suggest that 95% of crashes and collisions are caused by human error, so education is key.

KFRS says that as many as one in five people may be driving while under the influence of drugs and police officers are now using swipes to detect drug taking at the roadside.

Police ask those they suspect may be on drugs to undertake a test which involves simple things like walking in a straight line or touching their nose. If they find it difficult, chances are they could be under the influence of drugs.