Drugged driving is on the rise in Nebraska. To help keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office to spread the message that drug-impaired driving of any kind is dangerous and illegal.
The NDOT Highway Safety Office wants to remind all drivers: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Like drunk driving, drug-impaired driving is illegal nationwide. According to the NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled.
In 2018, 46% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it is so important to spread this lifesaving message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. It doesn’t matter what term is used: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, or wasted, he or she should not get behind the wheel.
“It doesn’t matter what the day is; marijuana impairment is a threat when you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle,” Dodge County Sheriff Bob Reynolds said. “We are asking our community members to obey the law and to make safe choices when behind the wheel of a vehicle.”
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting sobriety checkpoints from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday April 22. The two locations for the checkpoints are Military Avenue west of Business Park Drive from 7:00 p.m. and 9 p.m., and Highway 79 south of Highway 30 in North Bend from 10 p.m. to midnight. During the checkpoints, drivers will be asked to provide a driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, along with being screened for impaired driving.
Options to Get Home Safely: Those who plan to celebrate should have a plan in place and refrain from driving. Here are a few tips to help prepare for a safe night
• If you have used an impairing substance such as marijuana, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
• If you are drug-impaired, pass the keys to a driver who has not used marijuana and can safely drive you to your destination. Like drunk driving, it is essential that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a vehicle. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — they’ll thank you later.
• If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.
By working together, we can save lives and help keep America’s roadways safe. Please join the NHTSA in sharing the lifesaving message, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. For more information on impaired driving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired
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