Impaired Driving

A driver cannot operate a motor vehicle safely if they are impaired. That is why it is illegal everywhere in the U.S. to drive under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or any other impairing drug that is prescribed or obtained over the counter. Driving while impaired by any substance, legal or illegal, puts the driver and others in harm’s way. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study on selected trauma centers and medical examiners, 51.6% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug prior to 2020, and that rate increased over the course of the pandemic.¹ Impaired driving can be considered an extension of distracted driving as the impairing substance can cause both visual and cognitive distractions:

• Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times.
• Cocaine and methamphetamine can make drivers more aggressive and reckless.
• Using two or more drugs at the same time, including alcohol, can amplify the impairing effects of each drug a person has consumed.
• Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. Read and follow all warning labels before driving and note that warnings against “operating heavy machinery” include driving a vehicle.