Drugged car deaths on the rise, report says

DAYTON — A new Governor’s Highway Safety Association report shows drugged driving has now surpassed drunken driving as a factor in fatal crashes.

Statistics show drugs were present in 43 percent of drivers in crash fatalities.

The majority of Ohio motorists now view people driving after using illegal drugs as a bigger threat to their personal safety than those driving after using alcohol, according to a AAA survey.

“Public awareness of the drugged driving issue is critical to finding a solution,” said Cindy Antrican, a AAA spokeswoman. “The new statistics mirror what the public is already feeling which is the dire threat to their safety posed by drugged driving.”

Three out of four motorists surveyed said the use of illegal drugs before driving was a “very serious threat” to their safety compared to 66 percent who said the same thing about people driving after drinking alcohol.

“This is especially significant when you consider the number of years it took to get the public to fully understand the dangers posed by drinking and driving,” Antrican said.

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