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Drugged driving is a growing concern

On Behalf of | Feb 5, 2018 | Car Accidents

While drunk driving receives a lot of media attention for the risks it poses, West Virginia motorists have reason to be concerned about another form of driving under the influence – drugged driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working to draw attention to this type of reckless behavior.

There has been an increase in auto accidents attributable to driving while under the influence of drugs. Some have associated this with two widely disparate trends: cannabis decriminalization and the national opioid public health crisis. The NHTSA has announced that it is committed to enhancing scientific and data-oriented work around drugged driving, and it will be hosting a national summit in March 2018 to advance an action plan on the issue.

The NHTSA has said that it is looking for creative solutions to improve safety on the nation’s roadways, particularly to cut down on the fatalities and serious injuries that are caused by auto accidents. The summit will involve elected officials at all levels, data scientists and policy analysts, officials in law enforcement and criminal justice, toxicologists and drug experts. It will intend to bring together a plan to address the growing problem of drugged driving across the United States. Some steps to be taken include broader public education on the risk of impaired driving while high, a major effort to collect data on DUI offenses across the 50 states related to drug intake and enhanced enforcement of the laws.

People who have been injured in a motor vehicle crash caused by a drugged driver often require lengthy and expensive medical care and treatment. They might want to meet with an attorney to see if a settlement to compensate for their losses can be obtained from the at-fault motorist’s insurance company.

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