Just like drinking and driving, driving under the influence of drugs puts you at risk.
In the press we read about celebrities who get arrested for driving impaired, Nichole Ritchie, George Michaels just to name a few, and many more for allegations of drinking and driving.
Recently Lindsay Lohan's ongoing legal problems seem to be getting a lot of press coverage.
As we all know the problem with drinking and driving, impaired motor skills and judgment are also the problem with drugged driving. However, the impairment from drug use differs depending on the drug being used or abused.
While studies show the adverse effects of marijuana on driving increase with the level of THC (the active agent in marijuana) it is clear that attentiveness and perception of time and speed is most affected.
Prescription abuse also has been in the press recently with doctors operating pain clinics being charged for distributing narcotic like pain medication in large quantities. Each of those users may very well drive a car on Houston highways and put you or your family at risk.
Dangerous driving under drug influence can also occur by accident, in that a person on legitimate prescription medication gets in their car and drives because they did not read the warning on the prescription label or they didn't heed such warning.
If you are taking medication which indicates do not operate machinery- do not drive. If you are a passenger be very careful who you ride with- there are very few second chances when it comes to serious car accidents.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston accident attorney and writes on safety issues affecting the motoring public. If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunk driving accident and need to speak with a drunk driving accident attorney call the Baumgartner Firm.
Sources:
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/misc/driving/contents.htm
