Are Charleston Drunk-Driving Accidents More Likely than Drugged-Driving Ones?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released two new studies regarding driver use of alcohol and drugs. They discovered not only which type of driver was more prevalent, but also whether drunk-driving accidents or drugged-driving accidents were more likely to occur. How the NHTSA Obtained a Public Pulse on Impaired Driving The NHTSA hosts a roadside survey every so often, and they just concluded their fifth survey in roughly 40 years. To find out how drivers really behave, they set up 300 test sites across the country. Drivers were alerted to the anonymous study via road signs and were offered compensation to participate. Those who opted to participate were tested for alcohol, illegal drugs, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications. Anyone who was found to be impaired was offered a safe ride home. The NHTSA notes that throughout the years, more than 30,000 people have participated in their surveys and not a single person has ever been arrested for DUI, nor has refused a safe ride home. The Number of People Who Drink and Drive is Falling The very first NHTSA roadside survey took place in 1973. Since then, the number of people who choose to operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol has dropped by 80%. Since 2007, there are 30% fewer people behind the wheel who have consumed any alcohol at all. In the recent survey, about 8% of weekend nighttime drivers had measurable levels of alcohol in their systems, though they were not necessarily impaired by legal standards. Approximately 1.5% of drivers had blood-alcohol content levels of 0.08% or higher, which would legally constitute as drunk-driving. The Number of People Who Use Drugs and Drive is Rising The NHTSA has only been testing study participants for drugs since 2007, so the recent study only includes two data sets for comparison. However, about 20% of drivers tested positive for at least one drug in the most recent survey, which was up from 16.3% in 2007. Samples from 12.6% of participants tested positive for marijuana, which showed an increase from 8.6% in 2007. Are People More Likely Have a Drunk-Driving Accident or a Drugged-Driving Accident? In a separate study, the NHTSA looked at collision risk for drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol, as well as those who were sober. A BAC of 0.08% increased accident risk by about 4 times, while a BAC of 0.12% upped the chances of a collision by approximately 12 times. Across the board, those who tested positive for marijuana were 25% more likely to have an accident.

Charleston Drunk-Driving Accident Attorney

Regardless of whether drivers who use drugs or those who consume alcohol cause more collisions, both are deadly. Impaired drivers can cause enormous amounts of heartache and leave victims saddled with mounting bills. If you have been injured, or have lost a loved one to an impaired driver, a court may award you reparations, and we can help you receive a fair settlement. Please contact us using our online form or speak with one of our attorneys by calling 1(800)610-2546.