There’s little question that the nation’s highways are safer than ever, with traffic-related fatalities at historic lows. However, one trend that has safety officials concerned is that operating a motor vehicle under the influence of prescription drugs or marijuana is fast exceeding drunk driving in the U.S.
While stricter and more aggressively enforced drunk-driving laws has helped reduce the number of motorists having alcohol in their system by nearly one-third since 2007, one in four drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could influence his or her safety behind the wheel.
That’s according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s), latest Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. It was conducted in Virginia Beach, Va. over a 20-month period from more than 3,000 drivers who were involved in crashes, along with a control group of 6,000 drivers who otherwise drove safely.
The survey determined that the number of weekend nighttime drivers having drugs in their system increased from 16.3 percent in 2007 to 20 percent in 2014. Meanwhile, the number of motorists having marijuana in their systems jumped by nearly 50 percent, thinks we would assume to a growing number of states with full or partial legalization or municipalities with relaxed enforcement of existing pot ownership laws. Not to mention aging Baby Boomers who are revisiting their roots by trading in the martini shaker for a bong.
By comparison, around eight percent of drivers during weekend nighttime hours were found to have alcohol in their system, and just over one percent were found with 0.08 percent or higher breath alcohol content, which is the legal limit in every state. This is down by about 30 percent from the previous Roadside Survey in 2007 and down 80 percent from the first such study NHTSA conducted back in 1973.
“America made drunk driving a national issue and while there is no victory as long as a single American dies in an alcohol-related crash, a one-third reduction in alcohol use over just seven years shows how a focused effort and cooperation among the federal government, states and communities, law enforcement, safety advocates and industry can make an enormous difference,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. “At the same time, the latest survey raises significant questions about drug use and highway safety.”
The survey found that drivers who had been drinking above the 0.08 percent legal limit crashed at a rate of four times higher than sober motorists, with those having blood alcohol levels at 0.15 percent or higher getting into accidents at 12 times the norm.
A second study that attempted to determine how much more or less dangerous pot smokers are than drinkers while driving was less conclusive. While the survey found that marijuana users are indeed more likely to be involved in accidents, agency officials caution that the statistics are likely skewed by who is most likely to get behind the wheel the after smoking a joint. In particular, the survey points out, marijuana users are more likely to be young men, which is a demographic that’s already the most prone among all drivers to get into car crashes.
To see the original article, go to Forbes.com.
