Recently, The Tennessean brought light to a disturbing turn of events. According to Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) data, drugged driving has passed drunk driving and distracted driving to become the leading factor in fatal car accidents in Tennessee.
In the piece in The Tennessean, a mother tells the tragic story of her college-aged son’s death due to drugged driving. The young man was 22 years old at the time of his death. He had graduated from Lipscomb University pre-med only two months prior to the deadly crash. He was also only days removed from proposing to his high school sweetheart before he was killed in the drugged driving accident. The other driver in the wreck was alleged to have been on hydrocodone and amphetamines at the time of the incident.
HOW DID DRUGGED DRIVING BECOME THE TOP CAUSE OF FATAL CRASHES IN TENNESSEE?
A WJHL-TV report included a statement from a sergeant with the THP who said that the increase in drugged driving accidents could be attributed to a few factors, including:
- Drugs are more available than alcohol
- There are a greater variety of drugs to choose from
- Drugs many times cost less than alcohol
While the THP sergeant’s reasons for the rise in drugged driving wrecks is not official, he did raise valid points. Drunk driving and, as of late, distracted driving have rightly so received a lot of attention over the years through awareness and prevention campaigns. However, drugged driving has managed to remain under the radar, often being lumped in with drunk driving campaigns as an afterthought. Unfortunately, as a result, drugged driving appears to have become a bigger problem than both distracted and drunk driving.
At The Law Office of Stanley A. Davis, our Nashville personal injury attorney is dedicated to helping the people of Davidson County fight back against those who have hurt them or someone they love due to negligence.
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16