Drug-Impaired Driving

Drug-impaired driving is a growing problem in the U.S., and the laws are complex and vary by state. There are over 400 drugs that are tracked by NHTSA that can cause impairment, and each has a different impact on every user. As states address the issue of drugged driving, the need for additional data is important.

In May 2018, GHSA published Drug-Impaired Driving: Marijuana and Opioids Raise Critical Issues for States, a report analyzing the latest available data on drugged driving, providing an in-depth look at the impact of marijuana and opioids on driving, and offering a number of recommendations for how states and traffic safety stakeholders can best address the issue. The report notes that, as this issue grows, the focus of impaired driving programs should expand to include all impairing substances.

GHSA also published a 2017 report summarizing the state of knowledge of drug use by drivers on America's roadways and identifying actions that can be taken to detect and prevent drug-impaired driving. The report provides a number of recommendations in areas ranging from planning to education to laws and prosecution.

The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility

GHSA works with the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) to combat the issue of drugged driving. GHSA and Responsibility.org sponsor a grant program to help states train law enforcement officers to recognize drug-impaired drivers. In addition, Responsibility.org has created a DUID Checklist for Policymakers, which can be accessed on its website.

Together, GHSA and Responsibility.org enable states to provide law enforcement officers with the advanced training and skills necessary to detect drivers who are impaired by marijuana and other drugs. As drug-impaired drivers continue to be a nationwide problem, this partnership aims to ensure that law enforcement agencies and highway safety offices have all the tools available to them to identify these drivers. Learn more about the partnership here.

GHSA and Responsiblity.org also work together through the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, a coalition to eliminate all forms of impaired driving, especially multiple substance impaired driving, through effective and proven measures such as DUI system reform, DUI detection and improved use of data and technology. GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins is the NASID Board Chair. NASID has created an interactive, online state laws map and database that is updated in real-time and designed to empower users to navigate the cannabis- and DUI-law labyrinth across the U.S. at no cost. You can access the map here.