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COLUMBUS — Behind bars is no way to spend your holidays!
During this busy festive season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension are teaming up for the If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI. impaired driving awareness campaign, which runs from Dec. 15, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during the holiday season to take drug impaired drivers off the roads.
“Across the country, laws regarding drug use are constantly changing, but one thing remains the same: Impaired driving is illegal and deadly,” Ja’Shae Carter said, “We cannot overstate the importance of abstaining from driving after using drugs. During this high-visibility period, we will be monitoring drivers and enforcing impaired-driving laws.”
If you think being high won’t affect your driving, you’re wrong. It has been proven that marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
Those who plan to use drugs should not drive. Even over the counter and prescription medications can have impairing effects. Take caution before driving after using any medication. If you find yourself drug-impaired and with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get in the vehicle with an impaired driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive while drug impaired, take the keys away and help them get home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — you might be saving their life, or someone else’s. If you’re a designated driver, stick to the plan: don’t use drugs (legally or illegally obtained) of any kind.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife’s Watch UR BAC program, there are plenty of options to help impaired drivers get home safely: Designate a sober driver. Call a taxi or rideshare. If you see an impaired driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact 911.
