NATIONAL NEWSClick on a state on the map below to learn more about state efforts to stop drugged driving.
- Catch up with the most recent developments in the the fight against Drugged Driving
- Or find out more about what is happening around the world
- You can also find traffic safety statistics from these states from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Recent News
October 7, 2008Bus Driver Suspected of Drug Use in Fatal Accident
Read this article from the Mercury NewsThe driver of a casino-bound charter bus that crashed Sunday near Williams, Calif., killing eight people, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, the California Highway Patrol said Monday. The bus, which had an invalid license plate, drifted off a rural two-lane road before the driver “overcorrected’’ and swerved back, a patrol spokesman said. Authorities said the bus tumbled into a ditch, ejecting some passengers as it rolled, crushing others. Eleven victims remained hospitalized Monday.- AP
September 23, 2008Teenager faces Murder Charges for Cocaine-Impaired Vehicular Homicide
Read this story from the Star NewsA 19-year-old Wilmington man is facing a charge of second-degree murder in the death of a bicyclist on River Road after drug tests showed the teen injected heroin and other drugs before driving on the evening of the crash, police said.
September 20, 2008NASCAR Implements Random Drug Testing Policy for All Drivers
Read the whole story from FoxSports.com
Also read the IBH summary of this story to learn more."Moving forward from there, we're going to institute random testing starting in 2009," said NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O'Donnell. "People that will be subjected to random tests are all NASCAR Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series drivers. All over-the-wall pit-crew members and, again, NASCAR officials will all be part of that program.
August 24, 2008Drugged Driver Kills Woman
Read the whole story at FoxnewsA driver who was under the influence of marijuana was sentenced to three years in prison for criminally negligent homicide in the death of a 53-year-old woman killed on the Seward Highway.
Timothy Wood, 33, was behind the wheel when his Chevy Blazer crossed the center line and slammed into a car driven by Diane Bahnson of Girdwood in 2005.
August 13, 2008Experts Find Cause for More Drugged Driving Research
Read this report from Medical News Today
Read the ICADTS Guidelines Here
Driving under the influence of drugs, also known as drugged driving, is a growing problem in many countries. In the United States alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 17,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2006. Studies also have found that drugs were used by 10 to 22 percent of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol.
August 8, 2008Driving Under the Influence of Cough Medicine Comes Under Scrutiny After Multiple Deaths
Read this developing story in the New York TimesHe was 87, but Anthony Vieiro of Yonkers still had many good years ahead of him, his grieving family and friends say, citing his vigor and exercise regimen.
They certainly never expected to lose him in a car accident last year, caused by a young driver high on over-the-counter medication containing dextromethorphan. Commonly known as DXM, the drug is found in cough suppressants like Robitussin, Sudafed and Tylenol products, and can cause hallucinations, seizures and death when taken in large quantities. Its illicit use is commonly called robotripping.
August 20, 2008Murderous Rampage Follows Drugged Driving Episode
Read this story from Fox NewsCasey Weldon Till, 26, of Haines City, faces murder and carjacking charges after the attacks involving family members traveling in two vehicles.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office tracked Till to his home through a pill bottle left at the scene late Sunday night. Police allege that he killed Odalis Cespedes, 41, by running her over twice. Till told police he was high on crack at the time.
June 27, 2008Canada Cracks Down on Drugged Drivers with Stiff Penalties, Mandatory Drug Tests
Read this news from the Canadian PressDrivers who are suspected of getting behind the wheel while high on drugs will soon be forced to undergo a mandatory roadside sobriety tests when new rules kick in next week, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Friday.
Starting Wednesday, police will also have the power to take suspected drug-impaired drivers to the police station for a more intensive test or to give a blood, urine or saliva sample, Nicholson said.
May 27, 2008Marijuana Dispensaries Linked to Fatal Car Crash
Read the full story from the DEAOfficer Pedeferri was speaking to driver Andreas Parra at the driver’s side window of Parra’s car when a pick-up truck drifted onto the shoulder and struck Parra’s vehicle. Parra was killed, and Pedeferri was gravely injured. He remains paralyzed.
The pick-up truck was driven by Jeremy White, who is currently being prosecuted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. The investigation revealed a large amount of marijuana and marijuana edibles in White’s vehicle
According to search warrants filed in federal court, in his post-arrest statement, White acknowledged being under the influence of marijuana when the accident took place, saying he had purchased the marijuana from a “medical marijuana” dispensary in Compton.
April 2, 2008Tasmanian Police Given Power to Test for Presence of Drugs on Steering Wheel
Read this news from MercuryPolice Minister Jim Cox yesterday introduced to State Parliament a Bill which will dramatically increase the number of people subjected to random roadside drug tests.
Tasmania will become the first state to give police officers powers to intercept and use reasonable force to enter any vehicle for the purpose of conducting a trace particle test on the vehicle's steering wheel.
March 28, 2008First Drug Recognition Expert Trained in Ontario
Read the news in the Barrie ExaminerA Midland police officer is the first officer in central Ontario to be qualified as a drug recognition expert. Const. Bill Millar will be able to evaluate if a driver has a suspected drug impairment.
Millar recently completed the drug evaluation and classification program. A drug recognition expert can "investigate impaired drivers by . . . determining, out of seven drug categories, which drug that they're impaired by, and that gets confirmed by toxicology results," Millar said.
March 27, 2008First Man Charged Under New Driving Under the Combined Influence of Drugs and Alcohol Law
Read all about this new precedent in the Staten Island AdvanceIn an apparent precedent on Staten Island, a Great Kills man has cut a plea deal under a new law that allows authorities to charge an impaired driver who has consumed alcohol and drugs, but whose blood alcohol level is not over the minimum threshold.
December 5, 2007Institute for Behavior and Health Launches Website to raise awareness of Drugged Driving Epidemic
See what the Kansas City InfoZine has to say about the Launch EventThe Institute for Behavior and Health launched druggeddriving.org this month to help stop the problem. The Web site includes research, treatments and prevention.
"The bottom line is the lack of public awareness," said Robert DuPont, the institute's president. The institute is a nonprofit policy group that works to reduce substance abuse.
June 17, 2007The Drugged Driving Epidemic
Why the Mayhem at a Southeast Festival Wasn't the Fluke You Might Think It Was
By Dr. Robert DuPont and Michael WalshRead the full article from The Washington Post
More than three dozen men, women and children were hurt at a Southeast Washington festival this month by a driver police say was high on crack. Two days later, another allegedly drug-addicted driver crashed into a crowd of students at a bus stop in La Plata, injuring four.
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