More Drugged Drivers than Drunk Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes

For the first time, reports show the number of drugged drivers overtaking the number of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes.

A recent report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility reveals that, in 2015, 43% of drivers tested in fatal crashes were under the influence of drugs while 37% tested above the legal blood alcohol content limit. Among those drivers that tested positive for drug use, over one third had used marijuana and over 9% had used amphetamines. While the report had a very narrow focus, those fatally injured drivers with recorded test results in 2015, the numbers are still staggering and surprising.

In 10 years, the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for drug use rose from 28% to 43%. Some attribute this to things like an increase in the number of states allowing marijuana use. Currently:

• Medical marijuana is allowed in 29 states and the District of Columbia
• 21 states have decriminalized marijuana use
• 8 states and the District of Columbia allow recreational marijuana use

While marijuana usage may be legal in some states, both drugged and drunk driving are both illegal in every state. However, working to enforce the ban on drugged driving has unique complications that prove to be more difficult than enforcing drunk driving laws. For example, drugged driving usually requires a blood test, while drunk driving can be tested with things such as a Breathalyzer. The need for a blood test can lead to a delay in testing. By the time a driver undergoes a blood test, the drug may have already metabolized and the test may fail to accurately capture the drug concentration in the driver’s system at the time they were actually operating the vehicle. Additionally, law enforcement officers are frequently improperly trained in recognizing the symptoms of one under the influence of drugs.

Whether it be drunk driving or drugged driving, both put other drivers on the road at a substantial risk of sustaining serious injuries. If you have been injured by a drugged driver or a drunk driver, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. We all have a duty to each other to obey the rules of the road and a responsibility to exercise caution while operating a vehicle. Drugged drivers and drunk drivers must be held accountable for the damage they have caused. At Lovett Law Firm, we represent those victims of drunk driving or drugged driving motor vehicle crashes. Attorney Rob Lovett is here to fight for you. Contact Lovett Law Firm today.