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Driving Under the Influence of Substances
The charges associated with driving under the influence of substance typically relate to
intoxication with alcohol, yet it is an undeniable fact that alcohol is just one of many substances
that can impair ones ability operate machinery or drive. Drugged driving may include driving
under the influence of medically prescribed drugs, illegal drugs or both (Walsh). Though they are
known triggers of tragic accidents on our roads, prosecution and conviction are usually rare since
there are no clearly defined laws for handling such case in many states. This is partly due to the
complex nature of measuring the intoxication levels of some of these drugs, unlike alcohol that
often just require a simple Breathalyzer Test to determine its level of influence (Mrland). Some
states, both in America and the world over, have come up with appropriate legislations and
solution that have proved quite helpful and which I believe can be extended elsewhere to help is
curbing this menace.
According to a study by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
SAMHSA, teens and young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 years were more like drive under
the influence of substance than their elders over the age of 26 (Walsh). Likewise, teens are more
likely than an adults to underestimate, pay less attention to dangerous situations, or to over
speed. Just these reasons alone makes them more vulnerable to accidents and on-road fatalities.
The situation is even heightened by drug use (Mrland). A zero tolerance to cases of drugged
teen driving can be very helpful in making our roads a little bit safer. Teens found guilty of this

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offense, even in moderate concentration levels should be banned from taking up the wheels for
quite sometimes.
Further, individuals who are known drug addicts or abusers should also be prohibited
from driving until proven to be very clean. Past offenders are more likely to repeat their
transgressions if no commensurate penalties are met, and drug addicts are also more liable to
drive under some kind of influence just to steel their nerves (Moskowitz). Although little doses
of these drugs have a potential for making them more composed and attentive, drugs impair
judgments and one never really knows when he has had enough. Taking up just one too many
may have even dire consequences than the shaky driving in such persons while sober
(Moskowitz). Making it illegal for this group to drive under any traces of detectable substance is
thus recommended in preventing road eventualities.
Finally, a more precise definition of driving under the influence is recommended in state
statutes to facilitate the process of prosecution and conviction (Strand). It is a common
occurrence to see traffic offenders walking free from courtrooms just because the laws were not
specific enough to warrant their indictment especially with the issue prescribed drugs. Drugs
are drugs, and the fatality of accidents caused by impairments from prescribed drug are not any
lesser compared to those from illegal drugs (Strand).
Most people may want to rule out some of the recommended solutions as biased and
discriminating. But then these allegations may only imply that we let our misconstrued moral
inclinations get in the way of making our roads safer. Sometimes, under the principle of
utilitarianism, a small injustice to a few for the benefit of many is justified (Strand). Though,
again, this is partly because of the intricate nature of this issue. Drugs such as bhang take up to
six weeks to fully rid of from the bloodstreams, thereby making its intoxication quite difficult to

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gauge (Walsh). A property that justifies the law of zero tolerance for those deemed as high-risk
groups. Furthermore, some of these laws have been enacted elsewhere in some states such as
North Carolina and can thus be extended anywhere.
Impaired driving is a critical problem compromising the safety of our roads worldwide.
Many laws have been put forth especially with regards to drunk driving and have been quite
successful, yet alcohol abuse is just one of the problems ailing our roads and cases of road
carnage are continuing to pile (Walsh). This worrying trend is just another wake-up call for us to
tighten the noose on road offenders and come up with better control measures. For a start,
therefore, the above solutions are recommended.

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Works Cited
Mrland, J. "Driving under the Influence of Non-alcohol Drugs." Forensic Science Review 12.1
(2008): 79-106. Internet source.
Moskowitz, Herbert. "Driving under the influence." Prevention and Communal Impact of Drug
and Alcohol Abuse (2012): 109-123. Print
Strand, G. C., and Michael S. Garr. "Driving under the influence." The generality of
deviance (2009): 131-147. Internet source.
Walsh, J. Michael. A State-by-State Analysis of Laws Dealing with Driving under the influence of
Drugs. No. HS-811 236. 2013. Internet source.