The U.S. spent decades successfully campaiging against drunk driving to make roads safer, but use of marijuana and prescription drugs is increasingly prominent on the highways, raising new questions about safety, according to studies released by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The latest version of NHTSA’s Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers, supported that the number of drivers who had alcohol in their system has declined by almost one-third since 2007, and by more than three-quarters since the first Roadside Survey in 1973.
Yet that same survey found a sizable increase in the number of drivers using marijuana or other illegal drugs.
The 2014 survey found that almost 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.”
Nearly 8% of drivers during nighttime weekend hours were found to have alcohol in their system, and just over 1% were found with 0.08% or higher breath alcohol content. This number is down by around 30% from the previous survey in 2007 and down 80% from the first survey in 1973.
However, even as drinking and driving continues to decrease, use of illegal drugs or medicines which can affect road safety is mounting. The amount of weekend nighttime drivers with evidence of drugs in their system rose from 16.3% in 2007 to 20% in 2014 and the number of drivers with marijuana in their system grew by roughly 50%.
“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.”