A tragic incident in Coleman, Wisconsin, where an eight-month-old girl died when a cannabis-impaired driver ran a stop sign in October 2023, highlights the growing drugged driving dangers on American roads. The driver now faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to negligent vehicular homicide and drugged driving with a minor passenger.

The Scale of Drug-Impaired Driving

In 2020, an estimated 12.6 million Americans aged 16 and older drove after using illicit drugs, with approximately 11.7 million under the influence of cannabis. Additionally, 2.3 million people reported driving under the influence of other illicit drugs in 2018. Global roadside surveys reveal that between 3.9% and 20% of drivers test positive for drugs.

These drugged driving dangers extend beyond illegal substances. Legal but impairing substances, including sedating sleep aids, benzodiazepines, and prescription painkillers, contribute to the crisis. Each substance presents unique impairment patterns that differ from alcohol’s effects on coordination and reaction time.

Cannabis: The Most Common Culprit

Cannabis poses particular challenges in addressing drugged driving dangers. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that over 80% of cannabis users admit to driving within hours of use, with nearly 20% believing their driving improved. This misconception proves deadly: drivers with THC in their bloodstream are approximately twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes compared to sober drivers.

Cannabis slows reaction time and affects spatial awareness, whilst opioids cause drowsiness and dizziness. Stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine lead to overconfidence and aggressive driving. When drugs are mixed or combined with alcohol, the risks increase dramatically. For comparison, drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% face approximately 13 times higher odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash than sober drivers.

Enforcement Challenges and Legal Inconsistencies

Every US state prohibits drug-impaired driving, but enforcement varies dramatically. Texas and California use impairment-based laws relying on observable signs, whilst Ohio and Wisconsin employ per se laws setting specific THC thresholds, such as 5 nanograms per millilitre of blood. Georgia and Rhode Island enforce zero-tolerance laws, penalising drivers for any trace of controlled substances.

These inconsistencies create significant legal grey areas. In Illinois, driving with any trace of a controlled substance constitutes a crime, even without impairment or with a legal prescription. Arizona allows medical cannabis patients some protection from conviction based solely on THC presence, though prosecutors can still argue impairment.

Detection Remains the Biggest Hurdle

Unlike alcohol testing with breathalysers providing immediate blood alcohol content readings, detecting drugged driving dangers presents complex challenges. THC and other substances can remain in the body long after impairing effects subside. Newer synthetic drugs like spice or bath salts may evade detection without specialised equipment.

To address these challenges, 27 states had authorised roadside oral fluid screening by late 2023. These saliva tests can detect recent drug use more quickly than traditional methods, though they cannot determine exact impairment levels as breathalysers do for alcohol.

Public Misconceptions and Prevention Strategies

The absence of a clear, universally understood legal limit for cannabis comparable to the 0.08% blood alcohol concentration creates widespread confusion. Scientists continue researching how much THC affects driving ability, leaving individuals unable to judge their own impairment accurately.

Traditional roadside sobriety tests designed for detecting alcohol impairment prove less effective for drug impairment. New testing tools, including saliva swabs and eye-tracking technology, remain under development but are not yet ready for widespread implementation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s campaign, “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different,” emphasises that feeling “different” likely means driving differently too. This message underscores the importance of self-awareness and planning ahead with designated drivers or ride-share services.

The growing prevalence of drugged driving dangers demands increased public awareness and consistent policy responses. As drug-impaired driving becomes more widespread and complex, understanding these risks becomes essential for road safety. Making informed choices about substance use and driving can prevent tragedies like the one in Wisconsin from recurring.

Source: The Conversation