Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs: Illegal And Dangerous

The vast majority of drivers understand the many dangers and many consequences of drinking and driving, but fewer people know that driving under the influence of drugs can be just as dangerous and is just as illegal. For example, this week we covered the story of a teen who was driving while huffing drugs in Indiana. While using the illegal drug, she passed out at the wheel and her car ran off of the road and struck a tree and a telephone pole. Her friend and passenger, an 18-year-old girl, died in the Indiana car wreck.

Driving under the influence of drugs can be just as deadly as driving under the influence of alcohol – both for similar reasons and for different reasons. Drugs can make drivers sleepy (or unconscious) and can make them slow to react to stimuli around them. In addition, some drugs may make it difficult to concentrate on driving, while others could even cause hallucinations or tricks of the mind.

What are some examples of illegal drugs that are illegal to take before getting behind the wheel?

• Marijuana (pot)
• Cocaine and crack cocaine
• heroin
• Meth
• Mushrooms, LSD (acid), or other hallucinogens
• Ecstasy
• Inhalants

Why does driving under the influence of drugs get less attention than drunk driving? Driving while on drugs is less common than drunk driving, and it is also harder to test for. In many cases, police won’t test for illegal drugs unless an accident results in serious injury or death, or unless evidence of illegal drug use is found in the car.

Have you been injured in an accident caused by someone who was driving while under the influence of illegal drugs? Talk to an Indiana car accident attorney today.




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