NHTSA and law enforcement reminds drivers to drive sober

Crawford County — We know buzzed driving is drunk driving, but what about driving while drug-impaired? Nationally, it is illegal to drive while impaired by any substance, and this includes drugs. This holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office are participating in the If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI. The impaired driving awareness campaign, which runs from December 15, 2021, through January 1, 2022. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during the holiday season to take drug-impaired drivers off the roads. These expanded efforts to protect against impaired driving will be conducted fairly and equitably.

According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled. In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it’s so important we spread this lifesaving message: “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI”. It doesn’t matter what term you use: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she should not get behind the wheel. Think driving while high won’t affect you? You’re wrong. It has been proven that THC can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.

“The holiday season should be a happy time for our community, and we want to see drivers getting to their destinations safely,” said Sheriff Scott Kent. “We cannot overstate the importance of abstaining from driving after using drugs. The bottom line is that no matter what the substance, if it has impaired you, you should not be driving” he said.

Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. “Driving impaired is a choice,” said Sheriff Scott Kent. “Make the right choice and find a designated driver for a sober ride home if you’ve used an impairing substance. There are just no excuses for impaired driving” he said.

Crawford County Sheriff’s Office recommends these safe alternatives to drugimpaired driving:

•If you have used an impairing substance such as marijuana, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.

•If you are planning to use drugs, plan ahead for a sober driver to safely drive you to your destination. Like drunk driving, it is essential

that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a vehicle. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.

•Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending them — they’ll thank you later.

•If available, use your community’s sober ride program

•If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact Local Law Enforcement.