Drunk driving has declined but use of marijuana and prescription drugs is increasingly prominent on the highways, according to a pair of studies released by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”).
One study, the latest version of NHTSA's Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers, found that the number of drivers with alcohol in their system has declined by nearly one-third since 2007 and by more than three-quarters since the first survey in 1973.
That same survey, however, found a large increase in the number of drivers using marijuana or other illegal drugs: Nearly one in four drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could affect safety.
“America made drunk driving a national issue 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,” said NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind. “At the same time, the latest roadside survey raises significant questions about drug use and highway safety. The rising prevalence of marijuana and other drugs is a challenge to everyone who is dedicated to saving lives and reducing crashes.”
The National Roadside Survey, conducted five times over the last 40 years, is a completely voluntary, anonymous survey that gathers data in dozens of locations across the country from drivers who agree to participate.
The latest edition of the survey found that the prevalence of alcohol use by drivers continued to drop. About eight percent of drivers during weekend nighttime hours were found to have alcohol in their system, and just over one percent were found with 0.08 percent or higher breath alcohol content – the legal limit in every state. This was down by about 30 percent from the previous survey in 2007 and down 80 percent from the first survey in 1973.
By contrast, the number of weekend nighttime drivers with evidence of drugs in their system climbed from 16.3 percent in 2007 to 20 percent in 2014. The number of drivers with marijuana in their system grew by nearly 50 percent.
A second survey assessed whether marijuana use by drivers was associated with greater risk of crashes. The survey found that marijuana users were more likely to be involved in accidents, but that the increased risk may be due in part because marijuana users were more likely to be in groups at higher risk of crashes. In particular, marijuana users were more likely to be young men – a group already at high risk.
“Drivers should never get behind the wheel impaired, and we know that marijuana impairs judgment, reaction times, and awareness,” said Jeff Michael, NHTSA's associate administrator for research and program development. “These findings highlight the importance of research to better understand how marijuana use affects drivers so states and communities can craft the best safety policies.”
“Researchers have developed a deep body of knowledge about the link between drinking, driving, and risk. We know drunk driving kills,” Mr. Rosekind said. “The combined message of these two surveys is that our work to understand and combat drunk driving is paying off, but that we have much to learn about how illegal drugs and prescription medicines affect highway safety – and that developing that knowledge is urgent, because more and more drivers have these drugs in their systems.”
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].