Ending Intoxicated Driving In 2016
For over 39 years, Americans have known that drinking and driving kills. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), drunk driving continues to result in one-third of highway deaths each year. In recent years, drugs have rivaled alcohol as a cause of intoxicated driving accidents. Illegal, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs can all have impairing side effects and will affect each person differently. To decrease the number of intoxicated driving deaths in the year 2016, the NTSB has called for the elimination of impairment-related deaths as one of its top goals in its most-wanted list.
At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Atlanta car accident lawyers have assisted thousands of people injured by drunk or drugged drivers. We understand the immense consequences of an intoxicated driver accident. These crashes tend to inflict serious injuries that could impact accident victims for years to come. Our firm applauds all efforts to end intoxicated driving and urges all drivers to make a pledge never to drink or take drugs that could impact their judgment before driving.
Combating Drugged Driving
Drugged driving is rapidly overtaking drunk driving as a cause of accidents. While some states continue to move towards legalization of drugs such as marijuana and prescription drugs gain approval every day, steps need to be taken to detect drugged drivers. Police officers across the country need to investigate the possibility of drug involvement in the event of a crash. Drunk drivers can be easily tested using Breathalyzer and blood tests. Drugged drivers, on the other hand, might escape detection because few tests exist to determine whether the individual is on drugs at the time of an accident.
If drug users do not fear prosecution, they might not think twice about getting behind the wheel while under the influence. The NTSB and other safety agencies suggest testing of suspected intoxicated drivers to look specifically for the presence of drugs.
Lowering the Legal Limit
The NTSB suggests lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration limit from the current .08 to .05. Studies show that many individuals are already drunk when they reach a .08 limit, so lowering the limit could mean fewer drivers with impaired abilities are on the roadways because doing so might encourage drivers to stop drinking sooner or find a safe ride home instead of attempting to drive themselves.
Increased Education
Teens continue to drink and drive at alarmingly high rates. Increasing education among drivers, especially targeting teens, in particular, could combat rates of intoxicated driving. The NTSB and other safety organizations continue to sponsor educational efforts aimed at alerting the public to the immense dangers of driving while intoxicated.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work For Your Case!
At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located, our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source:
http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl8-2016.aspx