Although its origins are uncertain, April 20th (more commonly known as 4/20) has become synonymous with marijuana use and, in some circles, the date is a marijuana “holiday.”
On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, there will likely be an increase in marijuana use. To help keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Pennsylvania DUI Association to spread the message that drug-impaired driving of any kind is dangerous and illegal.
NHTSA wants to remind all drivers: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
Just like drunk driving, drug-impaired driving is illegal nationally. According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled. In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it’s so important we spread this lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
It doesn’t matter what term you use: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she should not get behind the wheel. Think driving while high won’t affect you? You’re wrong. It has been proven that THC can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
If you’re a designated driver, stick to the plan: don’t use drugs. For all drivers, your best defense against impaired drivers on the road is your seat belt. Wear it on every trip, and make sure your passengers do, too.