Mass.Gov



|[pic] |The Commonwealth of Massachusetts | |

| |Executive Office of Public Safety and Security | |

| |Office of Grants & Research | |

| |Ten Park Plaza, Suite 3720 | |

|Charles D. Baker |Boston, Massachusetts 02116 | |

|Governor |Tel: 617-725-3301 | |

| |Fax: 617-725-0260 | |

|Karyn E. Polito |617-725-0267 | |

|Lieutenant Governor |eopss |Daniel Bennett |

| | |Secretary |

| | | |

| | |Angela F.F. Davis |

| | |Executive Director |

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Fact Sheet

August 2017

• To make Massachusetts roads safe for all users, the Highway Safety Division (HSD) of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) is launching the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” (DSOGPO) education campaign and enforcement mobilization.

• This year’s campaign will include the impairment marijuana causes in drivers – and the increased impairment caused when alcohol and marijuana are combined. Massachusetts can look to Colorado and Washington, states that have legalized marijuana, to anticipate the effect legalization will have on road safety. Both Colorado and Washington saw a dramatic increase in the number marijuana-related fatal crashes after legalizing marijuana.

• The Massachusetts education campaign will air the same TV ads that were successfully used in Colorado. The ads will reach drivers between the ages of 18-49.

• EOPSS is providing funding to the state police and 150 local police departments to conduct a stringent impaired driving enforcement effort in which patrols will be conducted at high incident locations throughout the state. In addition, the state police, with support from local departments, will hold a series of sobriety checkpoints using two Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobiles purchased with grant funding from the EOPSS.

• EOPSS is working to increase the number of law enforcement representatives who are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), two programs that allow officers to detect drug impairment in drivers. There are currently 141 DREs and nearly 1,000 ARIDE trained officers with planned funding for an additional 60 DREs and 700 ARIDE officers to be trained in 2018.

Massachusetts Data

• Marijuana or marijuana-type drugs were the most prevalent types of drugs found in people killed in crashes from 2010 to 2014.

• From 2013 to 2014, alcohol impaired driving fatalities increased 14 percent (125 to 143).

• From 2010-2014, 77 percent of impaired drivers in fatal crashes were men.

• From 2010-2014, 46 percent of all alcohol-related driver fatalities were ages 21 to 34.

National Data:

• NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reported that drugs were present in 40 percent of the fatally-injured drivers with a known test result, almost the same level as alcohol.

• NHTSA’s 2013–2014 roadside survey found drugs in 22 percent of all drivers both on weekend nights and on weekdays.

• Drivers using marijuana demonstrated decreased car handling performance, increased reaction times, impaired time and distance estimation, sleepiness and decreased motor skill coordination (NHTSA).

• Mixing alcohol and marijuana may dramatically produce effects greater than either drug on its own (NHTSA).

• In Colorado, marijuana-related traffic deaths increased 48% in the three-year average (2013-2015) since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana compared to the three-year average (2010-2012) prior to legalization (GHSA).

• More than 10,000 people died in drunk-driving crashes every year on average from 2010 to 2014.

• Approximately 1 in 5 children (ages 14 and under) killed on US roads in 2014 were victims of impaired-driving crashes.

Data links:

What You Need to Know About Marijuana Use and Driving



The Effect of Cannabis Compared with Alcohol on Driving



Driving with a Marijuana High: How Dangerous Is It?



Drug Impaired Driving – A Guide for States 2017



Tips for motorists:

• Plan for a sober ride in advance. Use a ride sharing or taxi service, the MBTA, or a designated driver if you will be consuming alcohol or marijuana and then travelling.

• Stay in control by wearing your seat belt on every trip. Seat belts keep drivers behind the wheel in a crash.

• Stay off your devices when driving.

• Slow down and obey all posted speed limits.

***Media Note***

Impaired and distracted crashes are not “accidents”. We urge media to follow the AP Stylebook, which suggests avoiding the word “accident” in reference to impaired or negligent crashes.

To view the Highway Safety Division’s (HSD) “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” TV spots, or for more information about the HSD’s educational campaigns, go to DriveSober

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