About one in eight young drivers believes using recreational drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, speed, or ecstasy does not affect their driving.
In the limited time we have to administer this course, most of the focus has been on the dangers, results, and risks associated with alcohol-impaired driving. The danger of sharing our roads with impaired drivers also includes drivers that are under the influence of other drugs.
Prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal drugs can impair driving skills including vision, reaction time, judgment, hearing, and the ability to multi-task. Driving requires other cognitive skills such as information processing and psychomotor skills, which may also be impaired by the use of assorted drugs.
It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. Penalties include losing your license, a fine, and/or jail. Combining drug use with driving inexperience and high-risk behavior can lead to disaster on the road.<
A vast amount of research has been conducted on the effects of alcohol impaired driving. Methods of measuring BAL and the ability to identify alcohol-impaired drivers have become a relatively accurate science. Not as much research has been dedicated to determining the effects of other drugs on the ability to operate a vehicle. However, we know what drugs do to the body and that many people take drugs and get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
There are statistics that show drivers are on the road under the influence of mind- and body-altering substances.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed a survey and report to present data on driving following drug use, an area in which previous research is limited. <
In-home personal interviews with 11,847 respondents age 16 and older represented over 166 million drivers in the United States. The 166 million drivers represent only those drivers who reported driving within two hours of drug and/or alcohol use.
Driving After Drug Use
A majority (68%) of licensed teen drivers who use drugs regularly report that they “drug and drive.”
- 28% (46.5 million people) reported driving within two hours after drug or alcohol use.
- 5% (9 million people) drove after drug use, with or without alcohol.
- 23% (38 million people) drove after alcohol use only.
Characteristics of Drivers Who Drove After Drug Use
Driving after drug use was more common among drivers who were:
- Young (13% for those age 16-20 vs. 5% for those age 21 and older),
- Male (7% vs. 4% for females),
- Never married (11% vs. 3% for those who were married), and
- Unemployed (11% vs. 6% for those employed full-time).
Marijuana was the illicit drug used most often by drivers who drove after drug use (used by 70% of those who drove after drug use).
Among those who reported driving after using marijuana:
The majority reported heavy or weekly use in the past year (60%).
More than half claimed that the marijuana use did not at all affect their ability to drive safely (56%).
More than half perceived that they were no more likely to be stopped by police when driving after marijuana use than when sober.
A large majority of those who drove after the use of tranquilizers and sedatives (84% and 71%, respectively) drove following the medical use of these drugs. In contrast, only 43% of those who drove after the use of stimulants used these drugs for medical purposes.
Driving after drug use most commonly occurred on smaller roads (55%), in urban areas (56%), on the weekend (67%), and usually began between 6:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. (49%). The data indicates that even if you are not taking drugs and driving, many people are.
Drugged drivers are under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, sedatives, and speed. If you do not take drugs and drive, it is still critical that you understand you need to be alert to drivers who are erratic, speed, and seem to be unable to maintain lane position. Drive defensively, especially when driving at night or in an environment that might have a high risk of drugged drivers in your midst (6).
Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States.
Many young drivers don't believe there are risks associated with marijuana use. Approximately one in six (15%) teens reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a number nearly equivalent to those who reported driving under the influence of alcohol (16%), despite higher prevalence of alcohol consumption among teens.
After alcohol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana's major psychoactive constituent, is the drug found most often in the blood of drivers involved in road collisions. With some exceptions, epidemiological studies indicate the presence of THC in roughly 4-12% of drivers injured or killed in traffic collisions.
Research shows that smoking marijuana affects focus, concentration, perception, coordination, and reaction time, many of the skills required for safe driving. The drug can make it harder for a driver to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road. These effects can last up to 24 hours.
Marijuana is also mind altering. Thinking and reflexes are slowed, causing difficulty in responding to sudden unexpected events. A driver’s ability to “track” or stay in the traffic lane, to brake quickly, and to maintain the correct distance between cars is affected.
The data indicates that even if you are not taking drugs and driving, many people are. Drugged drivers are under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, sedatives, and speed. Even if you do not take drugs and drive, it is still critical that you understand you need to be alert to drivers who are erratic, speed, and seem to be unable to maintain lane position. Drive defensively especially when driving at night or in an environment that might have a high risk of drugged drivers in your midst.
Although there has been much research on the effects of alcohol’s impairment while driving, not as much has been dedicated to determining the effects of other drugs on driving skills. However, we are aware of the effect of drugs on the body and that many people take drugs and then get behind the wheel of a car to drive.
According to various studies and reports, driving after drug use was more common among drivers who were under the age of 20 years, were male, never married, and unemployed.
Marijuana was the illicit drug most often used by drivers who drove after drug use (70%). Research shows that smoking marijuana affects focus, concentration, perception, coordination, and reaction time; many of the skills required for safe driving. The use of the drug can make it harder for a driver to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road. Marijuana is also mind altering. Thinking and reflexes are slowed, causing difficulty in responding to sudden unexpected events. <
A large majority of those who drove after the use of tranquilizers and sedatives (84% and 71%, respectively) drove following the medical use of these drugs. In contrast, only 43% of those who drove after the use of stimulants used these drugs for medical purposes.
Driving after drug use most commonly occurred on smaller roads (55%), in urban areas (56%), on the weekend (67%), and usually began between 6:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. (49%). The data indicates that even if you are not taking drugs and driving, many people are.
Drugged drivers are under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, sedatives, and speed. If you do not take drugs and drive, it is still critical that you understand you need to be alert to drivers who are erratic, speed, and seem to be unable to maintain lane position. Drive defensively, especially when driving at night or in an environment that might have a high risk of drugged drivers in your midst (6).
Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States.
Many young drivers don't believe there are risks associated with marijuana use. Approximately one in six (15%) teens reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a number nearly equivalent to those who reported driving under the influence of alcohol (16%), despite higher prevalence of alcohol consumption among teens.
After alcohol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana's major psychoactive constituent, is the drug found most often in the blood of drivers involved in road collisions. With some exceptions, epidemiological studies indicate the presence of THC in roughly 4-12% of drivers injured or killed in traffic collisions.
Research shows that smoking marijuana affects focus, concentration, perception, coordination, and reaction time, many of the skills required for safe driving. The drug can make it harder for a driver to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road. These effects can last up to 24 hours.
Marijuana is also mind altering. Thinking and reflexes are slowed, causing difficulty in responding to sudden unexpected events. A driver’s ability to “track” or stay in the traffic lane, to brake quickly, and to maintain the correct distance between cars is affected.
The data indicates that even if you are not taking drugs and driving, many people are. Drugged drivers are under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, sedatives, and speed. Even if you do not take drugs and drive, it is still critical that you understand you need to be alert to drivers who are erratic, speed, and seem to be unable to maintain lane position. Drive defensively especially when driving at night or in an environment that might have a high risk of drugged drivers in your midst.
Although there has been much research on the effects of alcohol’s impairment while driving, not as much has been dedicated to determining the effects of other drugs on driving skills. However, we are aware of the effect of drugs on the body and that many people take drugs and then get behind the wheel of a car to drive.
According to various studies and reports, driving after drug use was more common among drivers who were under the age of 20 years, were male, never married, and unemployed.
Marijuana was the illicit drug most often used by drivers who drove after drug use (70%). Research shows that smoking marijuana affects focus, concentration, perception, coordination, and reaction time; many of the skills required for safe driving. The use of the drug can make it harder for a driver to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road. Marijuana is also mind altering. Thinking and reflexes are slowed, causing difficulty in responding to sudden unexpected events. <
