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"Drugs, like alcohol, are dangerous when driving. In order to drive safely, drivers must have clear judgment, concentration, precise skills and the ability to react to what happens on the road," said Fort Myers Hurt by Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The number of drivers with drugs in their systems is on the rise. In fact, the number jumped from 16.3 percent in 2007 to 20 percent of weekend nighttime drivers in 2014. Drivers with marijuana in their systems soared by almost 50 percent according to a 2014 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to a 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 9.9 million people aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed.

In recent years, drugs, other than alcohol, that act on the brain have increasingly been recognized as hazards to road traffic safety. Overall, research indicates that marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Other drugs implicated include benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines, according to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that the effects of specific drugs differ depending on how they act in the brain, but all impair faculties necessary for the safe operation of a vehicle. These faculties include motor skills, balance and coordination, perception, attention, reaction time, and judgment, all of which are needed to drive safely. Even small amounts of some drugs can have a measurable effect on driving ability. 

How Do Drugs Affect Driving Skills? (Source: MSD - Minnesotans for Safe Driving) 

• Marijuana - Mind-altering. Thinking and reflexes are slowed, causing difficulty in responding to sudden unexpected events. A driver's ability to "track" or stay in his/her lane, to brake quickly, and to maintain the correct distance between vehicles is affected.
• Cocaine - A brain stimulant that causes anxiety, delusions, seizures and lack of concentration, memory problems and blackouts. There is an increase in impulsive behavior with tendencies to take more risks and create confusion. A person using cocaine maintains the illusions of being alert and stimulated although physical reactions are impaired. The most dramatic effects of cocaine and driving are on vision. Cocaine may cause higher sensitivity to light, halos around bright objects and difficult focusing.

Laws Regarding Drug Impaired Driving

The Governor's Highway Safety Association says that while it may be more difficult to prosecute motorists charged with driving under the influence of drugs, rather than alcohol, DUI laws do make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of certain drugs in the system. All states have drunk driving laws. Only some, however, have enacted laws to specifically address drug impairment. Nineteen states either have certain limits for the presence of intoxicating drugs or a zero-tolerance policy, known as “per se” drugged driving laws. 

Florida’s drugged driving law is Section 316.193 of the Florida Statutes. It states:

(1) A person is guilty of the offense of driving under the influence and is subject to punishment as provided in subsection (2) if the person is driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state and:

(a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired.

What Drugs are Prohibited?

In Florida, any drug or chemical regulated by the federal government is prohibited as a controlled substance. A listing of the controlled substances which are regulated by federal law is found at the Drug Enforcement Administration website.

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.