December is designated as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, a time to spotlight the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. This initiative seeks to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities during the holiday season, a period marked by increased travel and celebrations.
For the fourth consecutive year, the federal government has declared December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. Despite a decline in overall traffic fatalities due to awareness campaigns, accidents involving drug-impaired drivers have been on the rise.
The holiday season is a time for travel and celebration, making it crucial to highlight the dangers of impaired driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 32,000 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2010. Of these fatalities, 31% (10,228) were due to impaired driving. December alone saw nearly 2,600 deaths, with 775 resulting from drivers under the influence.
While drunk driving has long been a focus of national awareness campaigns, drugged driving has received less attention. However, fatal accidents involving drug-impaired drivers have increased by more than 6% over the last six years. According to the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), one in three drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 tested positive for drugs, whether over-the-counter, prescription, or illicit.
In 2011, over 9.4 million drivers (3.7% of the national population) admitted to driving under the influence of drugs in the past year. Although this is a decrease from the 4.2% reported in 2009 and 2010, the numbers remain concerning, and accidents continue to rise.
As part of the effort to raise awareness and reduce accidents, the NHTSA will roll out its annual campaign, "Drunk Driving: Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Local police departments across the country will increase patrols and set up sobriety checkpoints on high-traffic weekends to catch impaired drivers before they can cause accidents.
California has recently passed a bill, effective in 2014, that differentiates between driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. Under current law, all impaired drivers are categorized together. This new classification system will make it easier to track drugged driving incidents and impose more accurate penalties.
In 2010, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for impaired driving. In California, the number of arrests for driving under the influence of drugs is higher than for alcohol. The new classification system will help better understand the frequency of drugged driving accidents and implement appropriate punishments.
Federal safety organizations and lawmakers hope that continued awareness campaigns, like December’s Impaired Driving Prevention Month, will effectively convey the dangers of impaired driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 30 people are killed daily in accidents caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, with hundreds more injured.
For those affected by impaired driving accidents, legal protections are in place to help victims recover. A highly trained car accident lawyer can assist in obtaining compensation from drugged and drunken drivers, helping victims repair damages and move forward.
By continuing to raise awareness and implement stricter measures, we can hope to see a significant reduction in impaired driving incidents and make our roads safer for everyone.
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