According to a report relased this week by the Governors Highway Safety Association, an organization of state highway safety officers, drug use now rivals drunk driving as cause of fatal car crashes. While the terms DUI and DWI used to bring thoughts of alcohol to mind, now driving while under the influence of drugs has taken the top spot in impaired driving, leading to accidents and fatalities.

Officials associated with the report attribute this rise to a quadrupling in the use of prescription drugs since 1999, and legalization of marijuana use in some states over the past several years, making drugs more accessible and universal.

According to the study from the organization, drugs were found in the body systems of almost 40 percent of fatally injured drivers who were tested for them. That percentage rivals the number of drivers who died with alcohol in their system during the same time period. The number of dead drivers who tested positive for drugs increased from 29 percent in 2005 to 39.9 percent in 2013, the report said.

While marijuana is legal in some form in some 23 states and the District of Columbia, that does not mean that it does no harm when overused or abused. The group behind this report concluded that marijuana was the most common drug that is used by far, found in roadside surveys, and found in fatally-injured drivers. Marijuana use by drivers likely increases after a state permits recreational marijuana use. This statement came after authorities uncovered a four percent increase in accidents where a driver was under the influence of marijuana.

When combined with alcohol, drugs can be even more dangerous and lethal. The report said the unfortunately common practice of combining drugs and alcohol results in extremely and dramatically impaired driving performance. Any drugs comined with alcohol can have a negative effect.

Many problems here lie in a lack of education about drugs. Many drivers, surprisingly, do not know that marijuana and other prescription or illegal drugs can in fact impair judgment and driving. Many, in fact, believe quite the opposite and thought it might enhance their driving ability. More education about these drugs, especially in states where they are legalized, needs to come about to further prevent incidents and accidents.

The report said police officers should be better trained to identify drivers who are high on drugs. It is not as easy to identify a driver under the influence of drugs as it is to identify a drunk driver, and as of right now, there is no device similar to a brethalyzer to test drivers roadside. Many believe police officers should start using roadside saliva tests that can test for drugs.

Here at the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny, our attorneys have over a century of experience dealing with DUI and DWI cases, in addition to a variety of other automobile accident cases. Over over $250 million sustained in verdicts and settlements proves our succcessful track record in cases just like these. If you or a loved one have been involved in a driving while under the influence accident, please call our attorneys today to discuss your potential case and the next steps you need to take in order to guarantee that you attain the results that you need and deserve.