Impaired drivers don’t have any place on the roadways. The negative effects of alcohol and drugs directly reduce their ability to drive safely — but people still fool themselves into believing they can handle the wheel of a car even after they’ve indulged.
The Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Transportation and other agencies around the state are teaming up to increase impaired driving patrols through May 4. The hope is that they can discourage intoxicated drivers from getting on the road this spring. They also want to catch impaired drivers and get them off the roads before they can harm innocent people.
Is alcohol the only thing that can leave a driver impaired?
While alcohol is a primary culprit behind impaired driving, there are other substances that can also have similar effects. Marijuana, illegal street drugs, prescription medications and even over-the-counter drugs can all lead to a driver being too impaired to safely drive. Sometimes a combination of ordinary medications can create impairments, too, even though each drug is safe to take by itself.
Around one-third of all roadway deaths are related to impaired driving, and the number of injuries caused by such drivers is even greater. If you’re struck by an impaired driver and injured or a loved one is killed, you may be able to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim for compensation. Working with an attorney familiar with drunk driving crash cases is beneficial since they can review the case to determine the options you have to pursue a measure of justice.