Drivers can’t operate a vehicle safely if they’re impaired in any manner. While most people think about alcohol when they hear about impaired driving, drugs are another serious issue.
One of the issues with drugged driving is that there aren’t reliable tests that can tell law enforcement how impaired a person is from drugs. Many drugs remain detectable in the system longer than the effects of the drugs. This means that blood tests and urinalysis won’t be able to gauge the level of impairment that’s present.
Drugged driving can involve a variety of substances
Drugged driving can be due to illegal drugs, but that’s not always the case. It’s also possible for over-the-counter and prescription medications to lead to impairment that negatively affects a driver’s abilities.
Some people don’t think much about needing to drive after they take medications that are legal. This point alone makes medications incredibly dangerous because the driver may not realize the full extent of how the medicine will affect their abilities.
Common culprits that are legal and cause impairment for drivers include allergy medicines, narcotics and sleep aids. Drivers should be especially cautious if they take medications that have warnings about dizziness, drowsiness or using caution when operating heavy machinery.
Anyone who’s facing drugged driving charges should evaluate their options for a defense strategy. These cases can be very complex, so it’s a good idea to work with someone who’s familiar with the intricacies of drugged driving cases. Doing this quickly is imperative because certain options may have strict time limits.
