This is almost as high as those that test positive for alcohol.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the leading causes of auto accidents every year. However, drunk driving is not the only cause for concern. Some people drive under the influence of illegal drugs, while others drive while high on recreational drugs, like Marijuana. According to a recent study, the number the drivers who died from road accidents and also had traces of drugs in their blood increased by 40% in the last decade.
How Real is the Threat of Drugged Driving?
When someone drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he is not only endangering his life, but also the lives of passengers and bystanders. In fact, drugged driving is one of the major challenges facing most of the US states, says a recent survey titled “Drug Impaired Driving: A Guide for What States Can Do” by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). According to the findings of the survey, more than 20% of all roadside drivers were tested positive for some kind of recreational drugs or medicines. Moreover, more than 60% of the drivers who got seriously injured from road accidents tested positive for some kinds of drugs.
The results of the study show that intoxicated driving is a major obstacle to public safety on the roads of America and this issue might continue to trouble the nation in the coming years. While drugged driving is increasingly causing safety problems, many people still do not have any clear idea about what this actually is. More specifically, people often underestimate the severity of the problem.
According to the study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 4 out of 10 fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs. This is almost as high as those that test positive for alcohol. Marijuana is the most commonly used drugs, with more than 34% of the respondents tested for it, while amphetamine represents around 9.7% of all drugs, says the study.
Key findings of the GHSA/FAAR study released in 2015 found the number of drivers indulging in drugged driving is on the upsurge. According the results of the study, 27.8% of fatally-injured drivers tested positive for drugs in 2005, more than 32% in 2009, and nearly 40% in 2013. This simply means the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate. The use of illegal and recreational drugs increased to more than 15% during the period between 2013 and 2014, from more than 12% in 2007. Interestingly, the use of marijuana increased to 12.6% during the period between in 2013 and 2014, from 8.6% in 2007; while the use of medications increased to 4.9% during 2013 and 2014, which is an increase from 3.9% in 2007.
Contact a St. Louis Auto Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured due to drugged driving, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 or fill out our online contact form. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., we focus our law practice exclusively on handling accident injury cases. With 25 years of experience, no case is too complex for attorney Christopher Hoffmann. Our goal is to secure maximum financial compensation for your physical and emotional recovery.