Drug-Impaired Driving Trends
While we’ve long studied and understood the dangers involving drunk driving, we are still researching and learning about the effects of drugs on driving. Meanwhile, it has become an increasing public and governmental concern in the United States.
The 2013-2014 Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers found an increase in the number of drivers testing positive for marijuana and other drugs that can impair driving skills compared to the 2007 survey findings. In the 2013-2014 survey, nearly one in four drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could potentially affect safe driving skills.
Drug-impaired driving is an important safety issue that NHTSA continues to research. The agency is working to develop new knowledge on how drugs affect driving, to grow new and enhance existing programs to reduce drug-impaired driving.
