According to a recent study, about 12 million people over the age of 16 admitted that they had driven while under the influence of marijuana at least once during the calendar year 2018. Additionally, 2 million people admitted to driving under the influence of other illegal drugs.
Some people say these statistics may not reflect the full extent of the problem of high driving. For instance, one person pointed out that the data was based on people’s own admissions, and some might not have felt comfortable acknowledging that they had driven while under the influence of drugs.
Moreover, for their part, law enforcement officers continue to search for a reliable way to test for high driving, as the drug can remain in a user’s system long after its effects have worn off. Those who compiled the statistics said that their research only reinforces the need for improved testing.
Whether easy to measure or not, science has consistently shown that marijuana has an adverse effect on a person’s ability to drive. The drug can hinder a driver’s ability to make split-second judgements and can also impede the driver’s coordination, both abilities that people need in order to operate their vehicles safely. It is therefore not surprising that marijuana use has been connected with an increased number of car accidents.
Marijuana remains illegal for recreational use in Florida, and it is always illegal to drive while under the influence of the drug. Unfortunately, people in the Tampa area may choose to ignore this law, especially as society continues to accept marijuana use more so than it has in the past.
Those who are victims of drunk driving accidents or drugged driving accidents may have options to pursue compensation. A negligent driver could be the cause of a serious accident, leaving a victim with much harm suffered. Thus, it is important to understand one’s rights and legal recourses to hold a negligent driver accountable and recover compensation for losses suffered.
