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Driving While On Drugs Increases Accident Risk

The New York Times has a report on the increasing risks of accidents of driving while on drugs. Ironically, around California and the rest of the country, there has been a decline in the number of alcohol-related crashes that occur every year.  This decline in the number of drunk driving accidents has also been named as a possible factor in the continuing decline in highway accidents.  However, there has been an increase in the number of motorists driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

The challenges from such impaired driving are even greater, because prescription medication are such a big part of the average American’s life.  Most Americans are on least one prescription medication, and many are on combinations of more than one medication.  These combinations can affect a person’s ability to drive safely, and could increase his risk of being involved in an accident.

There are several challenges to dealing with the problem of driving while on drugs in the United States. Unlike driving under the influence of alcohol, there continues to be ambiguity in the public perception towards motorists who drive under the influence of prescription drugs. Motorists who drive under the influence of medications and cause an accident, in some cases, may be unaware that their driving abilities have been significantly impaired because of their medication. For instance, some of the most common painkillers come with a strong risk of drowsiness. So do most of cough and cold formulations.

Many of these medications have warning labels, cautioning motorists about the risks from these medications and advising them not to drive vehicles or operate machinery after taking the medication.  However, the warning labels are so common that there is a danger that consumers will ignore these and continue to perform their normal everyday activities even under the influence of these medications.

There are other challenges in prosecuting cases, involving motorists driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Some prescription drugs may remain in the driver’s system for weeks after he or she has taken the medication, and prosecution can be hard.  Besides, there are other challenges that show up when a person driving under the influence of medicatio, comes before a jury.  Prosecutors typically find that a  jury will consist of people who are also on some kind of medication, and who don’t necessarily believe that a person driving under such influence is necessarily a danger.

Fortunately, there are signs that states around the country have begun to take the problem seriously. The growing incidence of motorists hopelessly disoriented and in no condition to drive because of their medications is creating a serious problem that demands a serious solution.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of drugged driving accidents. Please visit our website at http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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