SOMERVILLE, N.J. (Somerset County) — Federal and local officials are reminding drivers that operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs is illegal and dangerous as April 20, a date commonly associated with marijuana use, approaches.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging motorists to make safe choices and avoid driving while impaired, emphasizing its message: “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.”
“Driving while impaired by any substance, legal or illegal, puts you and others in harm’s way,” said Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald. “It is a common and dangerous misconception that people drive better when they are high,” he reminds.
Officials said drug-impaired driving can have serious and sometimes deadly consequences. According to NHTSA data from 2019 to 2021, 26% of drivers who were seriously injured or killed in crashes tested positive for marijuana.
Authorities said drugs, including marijuana, can slow reaction time, impair judgment and make it harder for drivers to stay in their lane, increasing the risk of crashes.
Law enforcement agencies in Somerset and Hunterdon counties will conduct increased enforcement efforts on April 20, officials said.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid driving if they are impaired. Officials suggest designating a sober driver, using a rideshare service or taking a taxi.
Authorities also urged the public to intervene if someone is about to drive while impaired and to contact law enforcement if they encounter a suspected impaired driver on the road.
More information about drug-impaired driving is available at https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.
