A Study Shows that Drugs Triple the Risk of a Fatal Crash

The Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, P.C., advocate for safe driving practices on the road. If you or a loved one were seriously injured or suffered a wrongful death, contact a vehicle accident attorney to learn about your rights as victim.

Most of us are very aware of the dangers of driving under the influence and while rates of fatal crashes have declined in recent years, there still seems to be a large sum of crashes caused by lethal combinations such as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. According to new studies conducted by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the risk for crash increased significantly when driving under the influence, especially when drugs and alcohol are used together.

According to Medical News Today[1], the study used two sets of data that were sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For the first time, they integrated data from the 2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), to relate the risk of fatal crash when under the influence of drugs and alcohol combined. The overall results showed that the drivers who were under the influence of drugs were three times more likely to be in fatal car crash. Additional results showed, “drivers who tested positive for neither alcohol nor drugs, the odds of fatal crash involvement increased by more than 13 times for those who were alcohol-positive but drug-negative, more than two-fold for those who were alcohol-negative but drug-positive, and 23 times for those who were positive for both alcohol and drugs.”

However, it was difficult for the study to tell which drugs had the most influence, mostly because it depended on the individual person and their tolerance. Depressants showed to have the highest impact on driving, followed by stimulants, narcotics, and marijuana.

When it comes to operating a vehicle, the attorneys at Malman Law advocate for safe driving practices to prevent serious injuries or even death. Unfortunately, there are still negligent drivers on the road. If you or a loved one suffered from serious damages including severe injuries, emotional distress or lost wages because of another negligent driver, call our office today to learn about your legal rights.

1 Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Hea. (2013, September 28). "Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs triples the risk of a fatal car crash." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/266654.php.