The Governors Highway Safety Association has put together a guide to help states better handle drug impaired driving.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2013 (the most recent year for which data is available) drugs were reported in 40% for the fatally-injured drivers, nearly the same amount as had alcohol in their systems.

The overall percentage of drivers who had their blood alcohol content (BAC) tested has continued to drop. Conversely, increasing numbers of drivers are testing positive for illegal and misused prescription drugs in their blood or saliva.

What You Need to Know About Impaired Driving

• Using any type of drug (including marijuana and prescriptions that can cause impairment), increases a driver’s risk of a crash.
• Using any drug in combination with alcohol is the most dangerous combination.
• There is a higher risk of a crash with higher concentrations of drugs (or alcohol).
• Some drugs are more dangerous to drive while using than others, but all increase the risk of a crash.
• Most illegal drugs and marijuana may at least double a driver’s risk of a crash.

What You Can Do

Do not drive when you have used any substance, including prescription drugs that can cause sleepiness or other side-effects that make driving difficult. Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents. Make a plan for how you (or your child) will get home if the driver has used a substance.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a sign of potentially having a substance use disorder. An assessment with a substance abuse professional can help you determine if additional help or treatment would be useful.