Recently, USA Today reported on a study by the Governors Highway Safety Association which found that drugs are becoming a common factor in fatal car accident. According to the study, about 44 percent of drivers killed in 2016 accidents had drugs in their system. This amount is a 28 percent increase from a decade ago.

However, the traces of drugs remain in a person’s system long after effects wear off, so it is difficult to tell if all motorists were impaired during their accidents. Since positive testing for drugs became more of an issue, the role alcohol has played in accidents. So, while there is no certain link between drugged driving and accidents, many safety advocates suspect that an increase is drug usage might be making the roads of America less safe. Some studies have shown that drivers with marijuana in their system are twice as likely to be responsible for a deadly crash or accident

How to Stop Drugged Driving

One problem with preventing or determining the prevalence of drugged driving is the fact that there’s no standardized method of testing for drugs across the nation. So, authorities must rely on their own methods instead of consolidating their efforts under a national standard. Since there are so many possible drugs, authorities need standardized guidelines which will help them develop effective and thorough testing methods for a wide range of substance use. Without standardized testing, it’s impossible to identify how serious the problem of drugged driving, and authorities have no way of developing a thorough plan to fight the problem.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a person who was under the influence of drugs, it’s time to call a personal injury attorney. No one deserves to suffer because of the decisions of another person, and a personal injury attorney will fight for the compensation they need for medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with their injuries.

Use our site to find an attorney near you who is ready to help you find solutions during this difficult time.