When Connecticut residents think about driving under the influence, alcohol is usually the first substance which springs to mind. However, drugs may be the bigger concern when it comes to collisions caused by impaired driving. At Loughlin and Fitzgerald, we understand that these fatal crashes can have a large impact on your family.
While you may see alcohol as a more serious danger on the road, the most recent data suggests that you should possibly be more concerned about drugs. According to Science World Report, many drivers killed in a collision had drugs in their system at the time of the accident. The CEO of an impaired driving organization says that the number of incidents involving drugged drivers has risen and that in 2015, fatal accidents tended to see less alcohol but more drugs.
One of the reasons that drugged driving is more prevalent is the legalization of marijuana, as the number of incidents increased as the drug became legal in more places. Although driving with any marijuana in your system is illegal in states which have legalized the drug, tests indicate that it is present in 35 percent of positive drug tests. However, marijuana is sometimes used with other substances, and drivers who mix them can experience different levels of impairment. The executive director of a highway safety group says that in order to develop a suitable plan to prevent drugged driving, states need to understand how people are using these drugs.
Many fatal collisions are the result of impaired driving and other reckless behaviors. Although these accidents can have tragic consequences, many of them can typically be avoided when drivers are responsible behind the wheel. More information about these collisions can be found on our web page.
