Plan for a Safe and Sober Ride on 420: Driving High is Driving Impaired

The data is clear: a recent NHTSA study revealed that 26% of drivers killed or seriously injured in crashes tested positive for marijuana.

"It is a common and deadly misconception that people drive 'better' while high," said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP. "The reality is that marijuana slows your reaction time and impairs your judgment. If you feel different, you drive different."

The GHSP urges West Virginians to take the following precautions:

• Plan Your Ride: Before using marijuana, designate a sober driver, book a rideshare, or call a taxi.

• Intervene: If a friend is about to drive high, take their keys and help them find a safe way home.

• Report: If you spot an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement immediately.

"It is important for drivers to understand that driving while under the influence of cannabis is impaired driving, and it can result in a DUI arrest," stated Huntington PD Sgt. Joey Koher, the WV Drug Evaluation Classification (DEC) Program Coordinator. "As we approach this non-traditional holiday, I want to remind our community to make responsible choices when consuming cannabis. Please do not drive impaired and put yourself and others at risk. Law enforcement officers will be proactively patrolling to keep our roadways safe. If you choose not to make the right decision, we will make it for you."

Driving high has serious legal and physical consequences. This "420," and every day, keep our roads safe by driving only when you are 100% sober. If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

For more information on drug-impaired driving, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.

For more information about the GHSP, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov.​