The Dangers of Drugged Driving
Personal Injury Lawyer | When you think of driving under the influence (DUI), you probably think of drivers impaired by alcohol. Although drunk drivers certainly pose a significant risk to themselves and others on the road, alcohol is not the only drug that can impair an individual’s ability to drive.
If you have been involved in a car accident caused by a driver who was under the influence of drugs, you could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your damages.
Why Is Drugged Driving So Dangerous?
A big part of why drugged driving is so risky is that it is less visible than drunk driving. From the time we are high schoolers taking driver’s ed classes, we are constantly reminded not to drink and drive. However, drivers are rarely cautioned about the dangers of mixing drugs and driving.
This could be linked to our complex relationship with drugs. Many drugs that can impair driving are not only legal, but necessary to treat certain illnesses. It is also because the correlation between drugs and car accidents cannot be as easily measured as the correlation between alcohol and car accidents. Drivers are not tested for drugs as frequently as they are for alcohol.
How Many People Take Drugs and Drive?
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), approximately 4,000 drivers who die in collisions every year are found to have drugs in their systems. Although it may be impossible to tell for sure how many people take drugs and drive, other statistics from MADD can give us some insight into the scope of this problem:
- During daytime weekend screenings, 12.1 percent of drivers were found to have illegal drugs in their bodies, while 10.3 percent were found to have prescription and over-the-counter medication in their systems.
- At night, the number who tested positive for illegal drugs was 15.2 percent, and 7.2 percent were found to have taken legal drugs.
- Drugs other than alcohol are the cause of 18 percent of traffic fatalities.
- 22 percent of drivers tested positive for non-alcohol drugs, both legal and illegal.
Drugged Driving among Teens and Young Adults
In a single recent year, an estimated 9.9 million Americans admitted to driving while under the influence of illegal drugs, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This survey also found that adults age 18 to 25 were more likely to drive after using drugs than adults over the age of 26.
If you are a parent of teens or young adults, it is important to discuss the dangers of drugged driving with them. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol in the high school and college years may be common, but you can help prevent a tragedy by making sure your child is aware of the risks associated with getting behind the wheel if they are impaired in any way. – Pajcic
For more information do not hesitate to call our Personal Injury Lawyer at Printy Law Firm | Tampa 813.434.0649 | Tallahassee 850.877.7299
