Drug-Impaired Driving

• September 21, 2023
• Personal Injury, Automobile Accidents

For many, impaired driving might be defined as being under the influence of alcohol when operating a motor vehicle. Impaired driving is really driving under the influence of ANY substance that alters your judgment, response time and other driving abilities. That includes both alcohol-impaired and drug-impaired driving.

Driving impaired by any substance—alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or illegal—is against the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Substances that Impair your Driving

Alcohol is the leading cause of impaired driving. It affects reasoning, reaction time, vision and muscle coordination, all of the skills needed to operate a vehicle. For example:

• At a BAC of .02 there is a decline in visual functions and the ability to multitask
• A BAC of .05 increases the crash risk by 7 times

Marijuana and other illicit/illegal drugs impair your driving ability in the same way that alcohol does. Cocaine and methamphetamines can make drivers more aggressive and reckless.

Prescribed and over-the-counter medications can cause poor muscle coordination, reduced decision-making capabilities, extreme drowsiness and dizziness.

Drug-Impaired Driving: A Complex Problem

• According to the CDC, 12.6 million Americans reported driving under the influence of marijuana or other illicit drugs in 2018 (CDC Drug-Impaired Fact Sheet)
• 1 in 4 drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could affect safety. (MADD)

From the National Institute on Drug Abuse–

• Use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs can make driving a car unsafe—just like driving after drinking alcohol.
• In 2018, 20.5 million people aged 16 or older drove under the influence of alcohol in the past year and 12.6 million drove under the influence of illicit drugs.
• It’s hard to measure how many crashes are caused by drugged driving, but estimates show that almost 44 percent of drivers in fatal car crashes tested positive for drugs.
• Driving under the influence of marijuana, opioids and alcohol can have profound effects on driving.
• People who use drugs and alcohol should develop social strategies to prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a car while impaired.

Impaired Driving Fact Sheets

CDC Drug-impaired Driving Fact Sheet

Missouri State Fact Sheet on Impaired Driving

• 2,506 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver in Missouri from 2009-2018.
• More than 10,000 people in the US die each year in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver.

Traffic Safety Facts (NHTSA, 2021 data)

• In 2021 there were 13,384 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in which at least one driver was alcohol impaired. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the US for the year.
• One alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 39 minutes in 2021 on average.

NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE? WE CAN HELP.

CALL NASH & FRANCISKATO FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CASE REVIEW

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in which you suffered serious injuries due to a drug or alcohol impaired driver, having an attorney who is your advocate can offer you peace of mind during your recovery. Call Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600.

One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.

START YOUR FREE CASE REVIEW TODAY

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