MADD Joins Forces with The White House to Fight Drugged Driving

According to a study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), one third of fatally injured drivers tested positive for recent drug use in 2009. Though this does not always mean that drug use was the direct cause for the motor vehicle accident, it shows a kind of negligence to operate an automobile after using some drugs.

A 2007 study from the NHTSA shows that drugged driving may be just as common as drunk driving.

Driving safely requires the driver to focus his or her attention on the road and his or her surroundings at all times. The driver must be able to accommodate for any sudden changes that may present a danger, such as traffic signals or people crossing the street. These obstacles could present a risk for sober drivers, but are extremely dangerous for those who have recently used drugs. Drugs often slow a person’s reaction time considerably and impair the person’s motor skills, making it difficult to accommodate for sudden changes.

Because of the frequency of drugged driving and the dangers it presents to everyone on or near the road, certain special interest groups are starting to take notice.

The organization called Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD as it’s more commonly called, is a group dedicated to reducing and stopping drunk and impaired driving. Their current mission statement is “to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.”

MADD was formed 30 years ago and still stands as one of the United States’ most popular and widely supported organizations. To date, their website states that they have saved 300,000 lives and counting.

The current president of MADD, Jan Withers, has started a joint campaign with the Office National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to raise awareness for the dangers of drugged driving.

The Office National Drug Control Policy is a White House based program created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1998. The purpose of the organization is to advise the President on drug-control related issues. Currently, this organization is led by director Gil Kerlikowske, who is assisted by three deputy directors. The goal of this organization is to reduce the amount of illicit drug use and drug-related violence in the United States.

MADD has been working to raise awareness and reduce the instances of drugged driving for the past few years.

Currently, MADD is calling for more law enforcement officers to enforce drugged driving laws more strictly. Also, MADD is pushing for more awareness and a reduction in poly abuse. Poly abuse is the use of both alcohol and drugs.

Through the partnership, MADD and the National Drug Control Policy plan to release more education material to call public attention to this problem. This is done with hopes that education will reduce this risky behavior.

Drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Most drugs affect the body in ways that impair proper driving skills.

According to the NHTSA, the most common drugs found to be used by drivers were cannabis, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Cannabis use, mostly marijuana, was found in almost nine percent of those surveyed by the NHTSA. Recent studies have shown that marijuana use may double the risk of motor vehicle crashes, making this a very dangerous activity.

Unfortunately, data shows that the trend of drugged driving may be increasing.

One of the most concerning pieces of information regarding drugged driving is that a quarter of those injured in motor vehicle accidents that tested positive for drug use were under the age of 25. In fact, 30 percent of high school seniors have reported driving after using alcohol or drugs. This puts the teenage and young adult demographics at a very high risk for this type of dangerous behavior.

Because of this, MADD is especially determined to work with the National Drug Control Policy in order to release better educational material aimed at teens, young adults, and their parents. This material will contain information on the risks of drugged driving and poly abuse, statistics on injuries and motor vehicle accidents, and warning signs that parents could be aware of in case their children may be using drugs. These materials will be distributed in a Drugged Driving Toolkit.

Ideally, this partnership will lead to a new level of awareness and prevention in regards to impaired driving and make the roadways safer for everyone.

If you or someone you love has been injured by an impaired driver, contact the personal injury attorney’s at the Wyly Law Firm, P.C. Our attorneys pride themselves on the personal services they provide to clients.

Contact us at (713) 574-7034 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation!

These Hubs are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.