One Third of Auto Accident Deaths in 2009 Were Linked to Drugged Driving
In 2009, approximately 1/3rd of all people who were killed in car accidents tested positive for drugs. The federal administration released this data to announce the launch of a new initiative to reduce the numbers of people dying in accidents caused by drugged driving.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy is collaborating with Mothers against Drunk Driving to launch a new initiative against driving under the influence of narcotic drugs. According to the report, the risks of driving under the influence of narcotics are especially high among drivers aged between 15 and 20.
The report breaks down drug use as a factor in fatal accidents, depending on the person’s age and the kind of drug. For instance, the report finds that accident victims aged 45 and above were more likely to test positive for depressants and narcotics. In accident victims aged 24 and below, marijuana seemed to be the most frequently-used drug. Additionally, close to half of the drivers had been driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. 40% of the drivers tested positive for both drugs and alcohol.
Indiana auto accident lawyers find that driving under the influence of drugs has the same kind of effect on driving abilities as driving under the influence of alcohol, but drunk driving has somehow not received the same attention by Indiana transportation safety agencies as driving under the influence has. Thanks to law enforcement and statewide awareness campaigns against the dangers of drunk driving, the numbers of people dying in alcohol-related auto accidents has declined substantially over the past decade. However, while all this attention has been focused on preventing DUI deaths, the number of accidents caused by people driving under the influence of drugs has increased.
