Remember: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different
Although its origins are uncertain, April 20 -- more commonly known as 4/20 --has become synonymous with marijuana use and, in some circles, the date is a marijuana "holiday."
On April 20 this year, there likely will be an increase in marijuana use. To help keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Saline County Sheriff' Office to spread the message that drug-impaired driving of any kind is dangerous and illegal.
NHTSA also wants to remind all drivers: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
Just like drunk driving, drug-impaired driving is illegal nationally. According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled. In 2018, 46 percent of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive.
It doesn't matter what term you use: if a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she should not get behind the wheel, the sheriff's office noted in a news release.
Think driving while high won't affect you? You're wrong, according to the sheriff's office. It has been proven that THC can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lanes.
If you're a designated driver, stick to the plan: don't use drugs. For all drivers, your best defense against impaired drivers on the road is your seat belt, the sheriff's office noted. Wear it on every trip, and make sure your passengers do, too.
"It doesn't matter what the day is, any impairment is a threat when you're behind the wheel of a vehicle," said Sheriff Roger Soldan. "We are asking our community members to obey the law and to make safe choices when behind the wheel of a vehicle."
Options to get home safely
If you're planning to use marijuana on 4/20, have a plan in place: don't drive. If you leave your house unprepared to get home safely, you may not make the best choice of how to get home. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a safe night out.
If you have ingested an impairing substance such as marijuana, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
If you are drug-impaired, pass the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you to your destination. As in drunk driving, it is essential that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a vehicle. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.
Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get him or her home safely. Don't worry about offending someone -- they'll thank you later.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact the Saline County Sheriff's Office.
By working together, we can save lives and help keep America's roadways safe. The sheriff's office requests that you join in sharing this lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
For more information about impaired driving, visit nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.