Montana is ranked number 5 for the highest drugged driving rate in the United States.
- In Montana over 12% of persons age 12 or older have used marijuana during the past month.
- (NSDUH) 80-100% of chronic marijuana users drive under the influence of marijuana.
- 70% of them do not believe that impairment from marijuana causes traffic crashes.
The fact is, drugged driving is responsible for a large portion of motor vehicle accidents across the state of Montana. Drugged drivers are killing more people on our highways each and every year. In 2009, drugged driving contributed to the deaths of 39 people on Montana highways. In 2010 that number increased to 52.
Marijuana and other Drug Impaired Driving
Marijuana is the most common drug associated with drugged driving in Montana. Other illicit drugs, as well as the misuse of prescription drugs, have also contributed to a number of drugged driving accidents and/or deaths.
In Montana, per year, prescription drug abuse causes 300+ deaths. So really, it’s no surprise that so many of the DUI deaths on our highways, have been directly linked to prescription drug abuse.
The effects of driving while under the influence of marijuana, are very similar to those of driving while under the influence of alcohol. For example, both can slow down reaction time, impair your judgement when it comes to time and distance, not to mention negatively affect your coordination. Other drugs, like cocaine and or methamphetamine, can make a person aggressive and reckless, while some prescription drugs and sedatives, cause dizziness and drowsiness.
Regardless of how a drug effects the brain, impaired driving is impaired driving, pure and simple.
Learn More about Drugged Driving
Click here for more information on Marijuana Impairment, and Marijuana Impaired Drivers in Montana, as well as Marijuana Poison and Impairment.
Other useful articles include, THC Levels Linked to Impairment, by Dr. Jan Ramaekers, as well as Impaired Driving in Montana, a presentation by Rebecca Sturdevant.
Visit STOP Drugged Driving for the latest news and information on the efforts to reduce drug-impaired driving in our Nation, as well as