Drunk driving down, drugged driving on the rise

Good news for drivers this week: fewer Americans are driving drunk, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But wait, there’s a hitch. More drivers are driving under the influence of drugs. On a weekend night, around 1 in 6 driver are on drugs.

The most common drug used by drivers is marijuana, followed by cocaine and over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Although experts and drunk driving activists are glad to see their numbers go down, Obama’s Transportation Secretary reminds us that “alcohol still kills 13,000 people a year on our roads and we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent drunk driving.”

Others say the new info highlights the need for more drug abuse prevention programs. But what do you think? Do you know people who drive drunk or drugged? What can you do about it?

Did you know that 35,000 American teens have died in automobile crashes in the past five years. That’s 6,000 a year, 18 a day. Want to change those numbers?

Think about creating a designated driver or safe rides program at your school or in your town.