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Lawmakers worry about rise in drugged driving
The Hill ^ | 07/11/18 | Jasper Goodman

Posted on 07/11/2018 8:16:15 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

Lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing Wednesday on the dangers of drug-impaired driving.

There is growing concern in Congress over the issue as data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility finds that accidents from drugged driving have been on the rise over the last 10 years.

A recent report showed that 44 percent of fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs in 2016. That number is up from 2006, when just 28-percent of fatally injured drivers were drug-positive.

But lawmakers also pressed for more information about the problem.

While the trend appears to be alarming, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) raised questions the statistics from the GHSA and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility.

“While this statistic, of course, raises concern, I have questions and concerns about the methodology and accuracy of this statement,” Schakowsky said.

She pointed out that there is no nationally accepted way of testing the drug impairment level of drivers.

“Alcohol continues to cause more deaths than drugs,” Schakowsky said.

Colleen Sheehy-Church, the President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), who testified at the hearing, agreed.

“The truth is that we do not know how many people are killed each year due to drug-impaired driving,” said Sheehy-Church, whose son was killed by a driver who was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.

MADD, founded in 1980, advocates against drunk driving. The group says focusing on that problem will also help reduce drug-impaired driving.

Lawmakers and experts also debated the impact of marijuana legalization on the issue. Recreational marijuana is now legal in nine states.

“With the prevalence of marijuana legalization — recreation and medicinal — it is critical that more work be done to understand impairment," Sheehy-Church.

"We agree with the recent AAA [American Automobile Association] study, which states, a .08 [blood alcohol content] equivalent may not be possible with marijuana. But we still must better understand how marijuana impairment influences driving behaviors,” she added.

ETC...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dopeaddicts; drugs; potheads; wod
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1 posted on 07/11/2018 8:16:15 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

I’m stunned. Stunned, I tell you. Like they couldn’t figure out this would be happening???? Actions have consequences. Sigh.


2 posted on 07/11/2018 8:20:15 PM PDT by Notthereyet (Notthereyet)
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To: yesthatjallen

Hey dude, what could go wrong with legal Mary Jane, dude?


3 posted on 07/11/2018 8:25:27 PM PDT by BobL (I drive a pick up truck because it makes me feel like a man)
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To: yesthatjallen

Drugged and drunk driving occur all the time and have occurred all the time regardless of what the law is or is not.


4 posted on 07/11/2018 8:27:02 PM PDT by chris37 ("I am everybody." -Mark Robinson)
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To: Notthereyet

How could this have happened I always was told it’s a victimless crime it’s good for everybody and George Soros says it’s good so it’s got to be right


5 posted on 07/11/2018 8:29:08 PM PDT by Rj Snows (Some years back Sacramento area used to be the capital of tomatoes)
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To: yesthatjallen

libertarians: endangering public safety and destroying the social order while sactimoniously claiming to be above it all for decades.


6 posted on 07/11/2018 8:39:51 PM PDT by JohnBrowdie
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To: Notthereyet
Dave's not here.

You know, I keep asking about how to gage when someone is high operating a vehicle, or worse, some sort of dangerous machinery while on the job. Who wants someone operating a crane? Its easy to tell if they are drunk, but how can you tell if someone is baked?

7 posted on 07/11/2018 8:42:04 PM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: yesthatjallen

It has become way worse in the last ten years, at least in my opinion. Every older person I see driving like a maniac I assume are completely gakked on their meds. Every young person being wacky behind the wheel is assumed to be either on their phone or gakked on illegal drugs. Have to say most of the complete maniacs seem to be the older people, it seem like that % has increased even with the increase of cell phone idiots.

Freegards


8 posted on 07/11/2018 8:50:33 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: BobL

Rest assured the vast majority of those dead “drugged” drivers are on legal drugs from the pharmacy.

It’s your grandma...dude.


9 posted on 07/11/2018 8:51:32 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: yesthatjallen

I’m concerned too. Not a day goes by when I don’t smell pot on the freeway. I believe it does affect timing and quick decision making. Getting high is not for on the road.


10 posted on 07/11/2018 8:52:29 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Mariner

I see way more old folks driving like they can just barely do it as opposed to the phone idiots. I assume they are wacked on legal medication.

Freegards


11 posted on 07/11/2018 9:04:50 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: Ransomed
Have to say most of the complete maniacs seem to be the older people

I see a lot of them.

12 posted on 07/11/2018 9:08:15 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (President Trump divides Americans . . . from anti-Americans.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

I see a lot of folks on their phone who should be beaten with pipes, but the real problems that cause disruption in traffic flow seem to be older folks not being able to handle it. It seems like that is way worse recently.

Freegards


13 posted on 07/11/2018 9:15:06 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: yesthatjallen

Create the problem
Bemoan the problem
Impose draconian restrictions on people who aren’t part of the problem

Lather, rinse, repeat.


14 posted on 07/11/2018 9:25:25 PM PDT by null and void (Freedom is in our blood, we don't pass it down genetically, but through the blood we spill.)
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To: yesthatjallen

I’ve done some reading about MADD and Sheehy-Church. She soft on marijuana and inhibited against doing anything about it.


15 posted on 07/11/2018 9:55:01 PM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: yesthatjallen

Typo correction:

I’ve done some reading about MADD and Sheehy-Church. She’s soft on marijuana and inhibited against doing anything about it.


16 posted on 07/11/2018 9:55:28 PM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: KC_Conspirator
"Its easy to tell if they are drunk, but how can you tell if someone is baked?"

By their driving, appearance and behavior. 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter in the blood.


17 posted on 07/11/2018 10:02:23 PM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: familyop

Is there an available test? Can someone go to court and say “I pulled bingers yesterday so I was not high”? I seriously dont know.


18 posted on 07/11/2018 10:59:22 PM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: yesthatjallen; Chode

I will suggest that the first place to start checking for Drugged Drivers is (see My Tagline) and the first one be the kennedy spawn.

I remember a while back a story of a 02:00 - 03:00 traffic stop on him while in the usual state of the kennedy clan: Drunk AND on Rx Drugs. And DRIVING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY STREET!

IIRC the Capitol PoPo caught him and let it slide but took him home while looking the other way.


19 posted on 07/11/2018 11:22:40 PM PDT by mabarker1 (congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!!)
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To: yesthatjallen
I am a proud, long-time, dedicated member of DAMM: Drunks Against Mad Mothers.
20 posted on 07/11/2018 11:46:27 PM PDT by gigster (Cogito, Ergo, Ronaldus Magnus Conservatus)
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