The facts behind driving high.
When most people think about driving impaired, they think of alcohol. But drugs pose just as big a risk to everyone on the road.
Drugged vs. drunk driving
Nearly half (49%) of fatally injured drivers who test positive for alcohol also test positive for drugs, according to multi-substance crash data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Polysubstance impairment is highly prevalent, and THC and stimulants are the most frequently detected co-intoxicants alongside alcohol.
The combination of alcohol and other drugs severely elevates crash risk, with Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) studies indicating that NHTSA toxicology panels often reveal high levels of overlapping drug and alcohol usage among fatally injured drivers.
16%
The increase over the past 10 years in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers killed in crashes who also tested positive for drugs.