Florida residents may be aware that the country is facing an opioid addiction epidemic, and with this has come an increase in accidents involving drugged driving. Adding to authorities’ concerns is the legalization of marijuana in various states, which has reportedly contributed to the problem. In order to tackle the issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning a summit to discuss ideas and possible solutions to the drugged driving problem.
The summit will involve state and local officials, law enforcement members, toxicology experts, policy makers, safety partners and criminal justice experts. The goal is to generate ideas and share best practices in how to prevent and tackle the drugged driving issue and lower the number of deaths from drugged driving crashes. The NHTSA hopes to outline a plan on how to educate the public about the problem and therefore find a way to prevent auto accidents where drugged driving is a factor.
Education will revolve around teaching the public about the real risks when it comes to driving under the influence of drugs. The summit will also focus on developing and advancing testing techniques to measure the level of impairment of drivers, figuring out the best ways to track drivers who have past offenses and making sure laws related to this are enforced correctly.
Victims of accidents where the liable driver is identified as having been under the influence of drugs might consider filing a personal injury claim for the damages incurred during the incident. The victim may contact a lawyer with experience in personal injury claims to explain options available to them as well as the possible damages for which the victim might receive compensation if the claim is successful.
