The Prevalence of Drugged Driving and Steps to Stop It

While driving under the influence of alcohol is decreasing, driving under the influence of drugs is increasing. This is even more of a concern given new laws allowing the medical and recreational use of marijuana and the spike in the use and abuse of a variety of prescription drugs. Like alcohol-impaired driving, a driver under the influence of prescriptive or illegal drugs could have his mental abilities significantly impaired, causing him to seriously injure or kill innocent victims in car accidents.

The Extent of the Drugged Driving Problem

According to a recent Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) report, drugged driving is very prevalent in our country. Discovering the extent of the problem is more challenging than testing a person’s blood alcohol level for alcohol due to the hundreds of drugs people take and the level of impairment caused by these different drugs. The report found:

• Forty percent of motorists killed in accidents tested positive for drugs.
• Twenty-two percent of drivers in a recent roadside survey tested positive for drugs or medication.

Seven Ways States Can Help Reduce Drugged Driving

The GHSA report made recommendations on how state governments can reduce the risk of drivers driving under the influence of drugs. These steps include the following:

• Educate people—especially young drivers—about the dangers of driving while taking drugs.
• Use the current data to understand the extent of the problem.
• Evaluate whether changes are needed to the state’s drugged-driving laws.
• Provide training to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges.
• Test any drivers killed in vehicle accidents for the presence of drugs.
• Evaluate any drug or alcohol offenders for an underlying drug, alcohol, or mental health problems and refer them for appropriate treatment.
• Keep separate data on all alcohol- and drug-impaired accidents to better understand the problem and how strategies to reduce these accidents are working

Even if you do not use drugs or medications that impair your driving, other drivers may continue to drive after consuming drugs. Were you injured in an automobile accident caused by another driver? Do you suspect he was impaired due to the use of drugs? Our experienced legal team is here to help you obtain the compensation you could be entitled to. Call us today at (727) 345-4566 to schedule a free consultation.