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AAA and others hope to reduce teen driver accidents by raising awareness of the dangers of drugged driving.

National Teen Driver Safety Week Focuses on Drugged DrivingNew teen drivers simply do not have the same level of experience as older drivers, and this tends to make them more vulnerable to having an accident under less than ideal driving conditions. The high rate of teen car accidents is not just a concern for teens and their families, but for the whole community—according to a recent survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teen drivers only comprise about 33 percent of the victims of teen driving accidents. The remaining two thirds of victims include other motorists, pedestrians, and teen drivers’ passengers.

Therefore, it is in everyone’s best interests to support efforts like National Teen Driver Safety Week, which aim to reduce the rate of accidents caused by teen drivers by promoting safe driving habits. We are currently in the middle of this year’s event, which runs from October 19 to 25.

This year, AAA and various federal organizations are focusing on drugged driving as a serious and perhaps underestimated risk for teen drivers.

One concern is marijuana. It is already the most widely used drug among high school students, and with many states considering enacting laws legalizing marijuana to one degree or another, it is highly likely that teens will have even more access to this drug. Some parents may not be too concerned about access to this “soft” drug, but what they may not realize is that today’s marijuana is extremely potent. In fact it is estimated to have tripled in potency over the past 20 years. Even if the marijuana itself does not compromise driving skills the way alcohol does (which is debatable), it still has the potential to cause teen drivers to become distracted, which can of course result in an accident.

Illicit drugs like marijuana are not the only potential cause of drugged driving accidents. Medications can also cause accidents. According to the CDC, about 18 percent of high school students have taken a prescription drug such as OxyContin, Vicodin, codeine, Ritalin, or Xanax for recreational purposes at least once in their lives. Misuse of prescription medications can easily cause impairment in reaction times and result in an increased potential for accidents.

Even teens who would never use “drugs” could have a drugged driving accident. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, teens can easily underestimate the impact of over-the-counter medications on their driving abilities. One obvious example would be any medication that causes drowsiness as a side effect, as falling asleep behind the wheel would certainly be very dangerous.

If you have been in a car accident caused by a teen driver, you may need help to get the insurance company to provide a fair settlement. Attorney Fernando D. Vargas can provide this help. Please contact our office at 909-982-0707 for a free initial consultation.