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Drunk Driving Accidents

• Kansas City Man Ejected and Killed in Drunk Driving Accident on I-670

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NHTSA Says Drugged Driving Is Increasing: Drug-Impaired Drivers May Cause Kansas City Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the first analysis of drug use among deceased drivers in fatal motor vehicle crashes. The report shows an increase in the level of drug involvement among fatally injured drivers over the five-year period from 2005 to 2009. However, drug involvement in this study does not always mean the driver was impaired or that drug use was the cause of the crash.

The data for the study came from information collected by NHTSA as part of its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) as well as information collected from individual states. The information was sorted into three categories:

a. Was the driver was tested for drugs?
b. What type of test was conducted?
c. The test results.

The categories of drugs recorded in the FARS database include narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids, phencyclidines (PCPs), anabolic steroids, and inhalants. The groups include illegal drugs, as well as legally prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medicines.

According to the data, 63 percent of the 21,798 drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 were tested for drugs. Of these, 3,952 tested positive for drug involvement, representing 18 percent of the total for that year.

In addition, data from individual states showed that drug use among fatally injured drivers increased from 13 percent in 2005, to 15 percent in 2006, 16 percent in 2007, and 18 percent in 2008.

In announcing today’s drug findings, NHTSA Administrator Strickland warned that these results are not conclusive as drug test results are unavailable for a large portion of fatally injured drivers. He also explained that the extent of drug testing conducted by states varied widely. Different states may test for different drugs or have different testing methods and criteria as well as different concentration thresholds for determining whether a test is positive or not.

Strickland added that NHTSA is continuing to conduct research to better understand the correlation between drug levels and their impact on drugged driving crashes.

Any driver whose ability to handle a vehicle is impaired by a medication or drug is driving under the influence. If you have lost a loved one to or have been injured by a drugged driver, you need an experienced Missouri accident attorney to protect your rights. Contact the Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616 to schedule a free consultation with a Kansas City drunk driving injury attorney.

Learn more about the rights of Kansas City drunk driving accident victims in our free on-line book: “10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim.”

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Latest News

• Posted on 4/30/2012Kansas City Man Killed in Fatal Car Accident Caused by Wrong Way Drunk Driver
• Posted on 4/24/2012Man Arrested after Fleeing Hit and Run Accident, Charge with Driving Under the Influence

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Drunk Driving Accidents

• Does the driver's BAC have to be at least 0.08 in order for them to be liable for my injuries from a Kansas City alcohol-related accident?

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