What is Considered Drugged Driving
Driving under the influence of drugs impairs a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely, much like driving while intoxicated with alcohol.
Common Drugs Linked to Drugged Driving
After alcohol, marijuana is the most frequently detected drug in drivers involved in accidents. Tests measure the level of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, in the blood. The role marijuana plays in crashes is unclear due to factors like prolonged presence in body fluids and its frequent combination with alcohol.
Effects of Commonly Misused Drugs on Driving
Marijuana affects motor skills and cognitive functions. Marijuana also can cause issues associated with drowsiness, time and distance perception, reaction time, coordination, and balance. Alcohol reduces coordination, concentration, tracking of moving objects, and response to emergency driving situations. It also causes drowsiness.
Drinking but not Impaired
This idea suggests that someone has consumed alcohol but remains below the legal limit for drunk driving. The concern revolves around whether an individual is actually safe to use a vehicle after any level of alcohol consumption. Alcohol tolerance varies among individuals, and even below the legal limit, poor driving choices can be made.
Understanding the Legal Drunk Driving Limit
The legal limit for drinking and driving is defined by a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08. This figure is the threshold beyond which an individual is considered legally impaired for driving.
The Illusion of a Truly Safe “Drinking But Not Impaired”
It’s a myth that you cannot be arrested for DUI if your blood alcohol level remains below 0.08. Drinking but not impaired may imply that you are within the legal limit, but of course, this does not guarantee that you can function behind the wheel.
