Car fatalities involving marijuana tripled in U.S., endangering Texas roads

According to Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, one in nine drivers involved in a fatal crash test positive for marijuana.

2014-02-20

February 20, 2014 (Press-News.org) Car fatalities involving marijuana tripled in U.S., endangering Texas roads

Article provided by Gilde Law Firm
Visit us at http://www.gildelawfirm.com

Marijuana is now legal in two states. Recently, Texas Governor Rick Perry also indicated that the strict drug laws regarding marijuana in the state should be relaxed, at least in regards to sentencing. Whatever one's views on legalization, it is clear that many people in Texas and across the U.S. are using marijuana for recreational purposes.

Unfortunately, some people are choosing to drive after having smoked or otherwise consumed marijuana. According to Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, one in nine drivers involved in a fatal crash test positive for marijuana.

Driving under the influence of any impairing substance is against the law, whether that substance is legal or not. For marijuana use, whether a person is "too impaired" to drive can be difficult to determine. Unlike alcohol, marijuana can stay in a person's system for up to several months after use. Also unlike alcohol, there is no bright-line rule under which a person using marijuana is deemed by law to be too impaired to drive. That is not to say a person can safely drive under the influence of marijuana, however. Drugged driving was involved in over one-quarter of fatal crashes in 2010, an increase of 16 percent over a decade.

Jonathan Adkins, deputy executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told ABC News that marijuana impairs a person's ability to drive similarly to alcohol -- a decrease in judgment skills, reflects and vision all occur when a person is high.

Researchers found that if a person is under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana, the risk of a fatal crash increases by a factor of 24.

Less public awareness of drugged driving

A number of public service campaigns have made drunk driving taboo. From Mothers Against Drunk Driving to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, commercials, public service announcements and increased law enforcement efforts have brought the dangers of drunk driving to light.

Yet, even legal, prescription pills such as Xanax or Oxycontin may render a person unable to safely drive. Other drivers believe it is safer to operate a vehicle under the influence of certain drugs such as marijuana but not others. The fact remains, however, that drugged driving is dangerous, no matter the substance, and tragic results can come from such behavior.

If a person is injured by another driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he or she may be able to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost work and other costs. Families of those tragically killed in such crashes also can obtain help through the legal system. Those involving in a drugged driving accident should contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss their legal options moving forward.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

April 15 is right around the corner, have you started your taxes?

2014-02-20

April 15 is right around the corner, have you started your taxes? Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com Even though the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) did not begin accepting tax returns until January 31 - a delay due to last year's 16-day government shutdown - U.S. taxpayers need to be aware that there will be no automatic extension to file their 2013 tax returns. Indeed, similar to past years, tax returns must be filed or postmarked by April 15 - a date that can sneak up for even the most prepared tax filers. However, ...

Ice and snow pose a danger to New Yorkers from above and below

2014-02-20

Ice and snow pose a danger to New Yorkers from above and below Article provided by Law Office of Stephen R. Krawitz, LLC Visit us at http://www.newyorkaccidentsattorney.com/ Most New Yorkers are familiar with the dangers of icy sidewalks. Similarly, stores and businesses operating in the city are generally aware they must keep their sidewalks and entryways free from slippery conditions even in the midst of winter. A failure to do so can lead to injuries to the store's customers and leave the store owner liable under New York premises liability law. When severe ...

Andreas Bender to Speak at Drug Design & Medicinal Chemistry Conf., May 8-9, 2014, Berlin, Germany

2014-02-20

Andreas Bender will present on new approaches in computational methods at the Drug Design & Medicinal Chemistry Conference, to be held May 8-9, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. While more and more chemical and biological information is becoming available, both in public databases and company repositories, knowing how to make use of this information in chemical biology and drug discovery settings is much less clear. Dr. Bender will discuss how chemical and biological information from different domains, such as compound bioactivity data, pathway annotations from the bioinformatics ...

Carousel Recognized as Microsoft Communications Gold Competency Partner for Second Year in a Row

2014-02-20

Carousel Industries, a leader in mobility, data networking and converged communications, announced it has earned the Microsoft Communications Gold Competency for the second year in a row, demonstrating its deep subject matter expertise in Microsoft communications and collaboration solutions, as well as its continued commitment to investment in a Microsoft-related communications practice. To earn a Microsoft Communications Gold Competency, Microsoft partners must complete a set of rigorous examinations to prove best-in-class technical expertise, submit customer references ...

Northshore Landscape Firm Heynssens + Grassman, Inc. Honored with 2014 "Excellence" Awards.

2014-02-20

Heynssens + Grassman, Inc. is proud to announce it has once again been honored with the prestigious "Excellence In Landscape" award for two recently completed residential projects on Chicago's northshore. Both award-winning projects by Heynssens + Grassman express outdoor lifestyle concepts which enable Windy City homeowners to utilize their backyards as outdoor bonus rooms during the warmer months. Their approach is to provide a fresh-air equivalent to the home's interior spaces that are just as comfortable, well-planned, and elegantly furnished - with a selection ...

Modern Career Guidance Platform Talentoday Launches in the US, University of Pennsylvania, UC-Davis Among Early Adopters

2014-02-20

Against a backdrop of 44 percent underemployment among 22- to 27-year-olds*, Talentoday, an online career guidance platform that offers recent graduates and career experts innovative tools in professional assistance, launched today in the US, providing much-needed support for young professionals who seek direction in an uncertain economic climate. "Outdated career guidance methods are leaving students and professionals underserved. At Talentoday, we are changing the way people find a job by giving them invaluable insight into themselves and compatible career paths," ...

Best Selling Author Louis Howard Releases Second Book on Amazon

2014-02-20

Inside the Mind of Champions offers philosophical insights from Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Zig Ziglar, Stephen Covey, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Shawkshank Redemption, the movie Wallstreet, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Aristotle, Peter Daniels, Casey Treat, Pete Carroll, Chris Matthews, Henry Ford, Vince Lombardi, Michael Jordon, the Godfather movie, Warren, Buffet and hundreds more. Author Louis Howard shares his private collection of rare and well known quotations and thoughts from some the world's most prolific leaders, philosophers and champions in their field ...

TCA Philadelphia Volleyball Club Donates to US Army Ranger Regiment

2014-02-20

Dressed in their camo practice shirts, TCA Philadelphia's 88 volleyball players, collected and packaged hundreds of much needed items on February 12 for soldiers in the US Army's 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. "Valentine's Day was the perfect time for our club to show our military personal how much we care about what they are doing every day to protect our country," said Cheryl Hertzog, director, TCA Philadelphia, one of Chester County's premiere volleyball clubs. The clubs eight teams collected items such as Q-tips, Skittles, Chap Stick, granola ...

Lady Lux Luxury Swimwear Expands International Distribution in the Japanese Market

2014-02-20

Designer and luxury swimwear brand, Lady Lux is now expanding distribution in Ichikawa, Chiba Japan. Lady Lux Swimwear will be featuring its designer swimwear styles through Japan based distributor Big Fish Story Inc. Big Fish Story Inc. is a premier apparel fashion retailer that offers imported luxury swimwear styles from Colombia, United States, Europe, and other regions. This fast and easy way to sell Lady Lux Swimwear styles in Japan opens the door to customers looking for the top designer swimwear brands. Upholding its expertise in luxury swimwear, by expanding ...

"Awakening the Courageous Heart: Part 2" on February 25 "Why Shamanism Now?" Radio Show with Christina Pratt

2014-02-20

Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network on Tuesday, February 25, at 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern on "Why Shamanism Now? A Practical Path to Authenticity," shaman and founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing Christina Pratt asks the questions: Why are we afraid to feel? Why do we fear the emotional intelligence of the heart? According to Pratt, the heart affects mental clarity, creativity, emotional balance, and personal effectiveness. It is no more a simple physical pump than it is simply the source of tepid pop songs and foolish dreams. The Chinese ...

Car fatalities involving marijuana tripled in U.S., endangering Texas roads

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: