New data shows that drugged driving is a severe public health threat. So the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are trying to do something about it. The threat has reached staggering proportions. According to a new ONDCP analysis of 2009 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) census, roughly 1 in 4 fatally injured drivers who tested positive for drugs were under the age of 25. Additionally, based on data from 2005 to 2009, almost half (42 percent) of fatally injured drivers who tested positive for marijuana were younger than 25.
This analysis provides a deeper look at previously released information from NHTSA’s FARS census of fatal motor vehicle crashes, and that was concerning enough. It showed that 1 in 3 motor vehicle driver fatalities (33 percent) tested positive for drugs in 2009. FARS data also showed that the involvement of drugs in fatal crashes has increased by 5 percent over the past five years, even as the overall number of drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States has declined.
“Research shows that drugs have adverse effects on judgment, reaction time and motor skills -- all vital requirements for responsible driving,” says Gil Kerlikowske, director of ONDCP. “I can think of no greater organization with which to partner to save lives on our roadways than MADD. For decades, MADD has been a lynchpin in our nation’s efforts to make our roadways safer, and I am proud to join them to help raise public awareness regarding the devastating consequences of drugged driving.”
MADD has launched a national effort to provide support to the victims of “poly-abuse” (both alcohol and drugs) and drugged driving and to recognize law-enforcement officers for their achievements in the fight against drugged driving. ONDCP also released new resources aimed at educating young drivers and their parents regarding the perils of driving while under the influence of drugs.
