NHTSA: Drunk Driving Declining, Drugged Driving on Rise

Feverpitched/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report on Friday showing that while drunk driving is on the decline, drugged driving has risen in recent years.

According to a pair of studies released by NHTSA Friday, the number of drivers with alcohol in their system has declined by nearly one-third since 2007. That same figure is down more than 75 percent from the first such survey conducted by the agency in 1973. Nonetheless, nearly 25 percent of drivers had marijuana or other illegal drugs in their system.

“America made drunk driving a national issue,” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said. “And while there is no victory as long as a single American dies in an alcohol-related crash, a one-third reduction in alcohol use over just seven years shows how a focused effort and cooperation among the federal government, states and communities, law enforcement, safety advocates and industry can make an enormous difference.”

“At the same time, the latest Roadside Survey raises significant questions about drug use and highway safety,” Rosekind noted. “The rising prevalence of marijuana and other drugs is a challenge to everyone who is dedicated to saving lives and reducing crashes.”

A second study was also conducted to determine whether marijuana use by drivers is linked to greater risk of crashes. The findings showed that while marijuana users were more likely to be involved in accidents, that risk may be in part due to other groups that marijuana users tend to be a part of. which, in and of themselves, place those individuals at increased risk.

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