The Secret about Drugged Driving – It Could Be You!
You don’t have to be a boozer or a pothead to be a drugged driver.
You could be suffering from the sniffles, aching with arthritis or stifling the sneezes when the pollen count is particularly high.
Drugged driving is about much more than alcohol and narcotics. It is about any drug, over the counter or not, that dulls your senses while driving.
So even though you may not be sloshed when you slip behind the steering wheel, think about this: You could be impaired by painkillers, allergy medications, anti-anxiety drugs or sleeping aids that will keep you from reacting quickly on the road.
Driving drugged is a serious problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that nearly 1 in 5 fatal crash victims between 2005 and 2009 tested positive for an over-the-counter, prescription or illegal drug.
Now let’s be honest: Are you a drugged driver?
A little something to think about – courtesy of Collision Guard.
By the Numbers:
10.5 million – People who admitted to driving under the influence of illegal drugs in 2008, according to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
600,000 – Estimated number of high school seniors, out of nearly 4 million, who had driven after using marijuana, according to a 2003 Monitoring the Future and Census Bureau report.
25 – Age when people are most likely to drive after using drugs or alcohol. An estimated 24.8 percent of young adults, ages 21 to 25, drive while impaired. That’s the highest of any age category, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
18 – Percent of fatal crash victims between 2005 and 2009 who tested positive for having prescription, over-the-counter or illicit drugs in their system, according to NHTSA.
0.10 – How much alcohol would have to be in someone’s blood to produce the same level of impairment as 10 milligrams of Valium, according to friendsdrivesober.org.
What to do:
Think ahead: Don’t wait until you’re sloshed to make the decision about whether to drive home. If you are going to drink, get a designated driver.
Take the keys: If you’re sober and your friend is not, take the car keys. Don’t let someone you love drive while impaired.
Say no: If you think Collision Guard is going to give you any hints about how to drive safe after doing illegal drugs, then you’ve got another thing coming. When it comes to cocaine, marijuana and other narcotics, our message is simple: SAY NO.
Read the label: Prescription drugs can muddy a person’s mind just as much as alcohol. Painkillers, antihistamines and even cough syrup and cause drowsiness and slow your reflexes. Before you drive, check the label of your prescription bottle for possible side effects or consult your pharmacist.
New Technologies:
Keychain breathalyzer: This little gadget will cost you almost nothing and keep you from slipping behind the wheel drunk. Just blow and it will give you an instantaneous reading of your blood alcohol concentration. Collision Guard found it for less than $10 online.
