You would be hard-pressed to find someone who would say that driving while under the influence of drugs is safe, but many people have no idea just how dangerous it is. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we can provide you with the facts from the perspective of a personal injury attorney in Rancho Cucamonga CA. Keep reading to learn more and then contact us at 909-982-0707 if you require a free legal consultation.
Scientists Have Known for 40+ Years Just How Dangerous Drugged Driving Is
Though it has only been in the last ten years or so that the federal and state governments have started taking steps to raise awareness about how many car accidents are caused by drugged driving, science has proven it for more than 40 years.
One study published in 1979 determined that there was as “highly significant” association between using anti-anxiety medications and the risk of being involved in a catastrophic car accident. In 2008, a study showed that using marijuana and then driving has a detrimental effect. Despite this, marijuana is only second to alcohol in the list of most common drugs found in a driver’s system after an accident.
The Number of Drivers with Dangerous Levels of Drugs in Their Systems is On the Rise
Despite the ever-increasing knowledge that driving with drugs in the system is dangerous, more and more drivers have been caught with dangerous levels of prescription drugs in recent years. In fact, one study out of the University of Nebraska found that in 1993 there was one driver in eight who was found to be using several drugs at the same time. In 2010 it was one driver in five.
Of course, it is not just prescription drugs that are the danger. In 2014, a National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than ten million people aged 12 or older said they had driven under the influence of an illegal drug in the past year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is Taking Steps to Reduce Drugged Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has noted this trouble issue and has looked at ways they can reduce the number of drivers on the road who are under the influence of drugs. For example, they have worked with states to pass legislation that both lowers the amount of drugs a person can have in their system while legally driving while also increasing the legal repercussions for driving under the influence.
If you are involved in a car accident in which someone else was on drugs, then you need to work with an attorney to determine your legal options. You can call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
