Alcohol and Drug Use on the Roads: a Multi-Analysis of Highway Users in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida, and Sacramento, North Carolina

Although the study authors say the results can’t be used to gauge drug use on the roads nationwide, they say the high number of drivers, passengers and other road users with drugs in their systems is concerning.

The study found 20% of drivers had blood-alcohol levels that were above the legal limit in every state, according to NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson.

“It’s scary to all of us in a way,” said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, a watchdog group. “But frankly, I don’t think I’m that surprised.”

Between September and July of 2021, the study occurred at trauma centers in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, Baltimore, Massachusetts, Iowa City, Iowa, and Sacramento, California. Medical examiners at other places also took part.

The researchers counted drugs in the blood samples, but did not take into account impairment, Berning said. She said that the data is likely to be used as a baseline for further study. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning to conduct a survey to measure alcohol and drug use on the roads. It did a survey in the years of 2013) and 2014; its last one.

However, the researchers of the new study sought to expand what’s known about road safety by looking beyond drivers. The information on passengers, bikers, electric scooter riders, and pedestrians who were involved in accidents, as well as drivers, was looked at in the study published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The findings are not necessarily generalizable to the nation as a whole, but Amy Berning, a research psychologist who worked on the report, said the researchers chose trauma centers that represented areas with a large patient pool from urban and rural areas.

Impaired-Driving Collisions Are 100% Preventible: The Importance of Alcohol and Other Drugs in the U.S.

It is tragic that Impaired-driving crashes are 100% preventible. There’s no reason and no excuse to drive impaired by alcohol or other drugs. All fifty states and the District of Columbia have laws against driving while impaired, whether legal or illegal.

“I think there is a message here in driving home to people that even if you aren’t the one making the wrong choice, thinking about the fact that you are on the road with people – potentially more than 50% of people – who are on something, whether it’s alcohol or other drugs, to realize the sheer magnitude of that number will not only demonstrate the reasons for the numbers of injuries and fatalities but also how it is such a problem,” Otte said. One of the important messages is that we all can be a part of the solution.

When so many people are having fun, it’s important to make a plan. Use a ride share or public transportation, or ask someone who isn’t going to drink be your designated driver.

People are encouraged to spend time with family and friends during the holidays. It’s been a hard few years,” Otte said. It’s important that we all get to go home at night.