BBPD to participate in drug-impaired driving enforcement campaign

BROKEN BOW - Like drunk driving, drugged driving is impaired driving, which means it is illegal in all 50 States Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. Whether the drug is obtained legally or illegally, driving while drug-impaired poses a threat to the driver, vehicle passengers, and other road users.

Between April 18, 2021 and April 20, 2021, the Broken Bow Police Department is joining other participating law enforcement from Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska in “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different Drive High, Get a DUI” — a regional Drug-Impaired Driving enforcement campaign effort to put an end to drug-impaired driving.

Law enforcement officers in Broken Bow will patrol throughout the city of Broken Bow. By concentrating law enforcement on high traffic corridors, organizers hope to put motorists on guard and encourage sober and safe driving.

Local impact: In 2019, 17 fatal crashes in 2019 involved drivers under the influence of drugs which means 9 percent of crash fatalities in Nebraska involved a driver testing positive for at least one drug. Law enforcement is trying to stop it. Drive high, get a DUI.

Drug impairment effects on drivers:

It is never safe to drive when impaired. This not only means refraining from drunk driving but also drug-impaired driving.

If you think driving while high won’t affect you, you are wrong; it has been proven that THC – the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects – slows reaction times, impairs cognitive performance, and makes it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.

The bottom line is this: Driving while impaired by any substance is illegal and can be deadly to the driver and other road users.

“Our goal is to save lives and we’re putting all drivers on alert – Drug-impaired driving is against the law. Remember If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI” Broken Bow Police Chief Steve Scott said.