The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) has issued a statewide reminder: anyone under the influence of marijuana, is unfit to drive.
Partnering with the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, the GHSP is debunking the myth that marijuana does not affect driving ability.
The data is clear: a recent NHTSA study revealed that 26 eprcent of drivers killed or seriously injured in crashes tested positive for marijuana.
“It is a common and deadly misconception that people drive ‘better’ while high,” said Jack McNeely, director of the GHSP. “The reality is that marijuana slows your reaction time and impairs your judgment. If you feel different, you drive different.”
The GHSP urges West Virginians to take the following precautions:
*Plan Your Ride: Before using marijuana, designate a sober driver, book a rideshare, or call a taxi.
*Intervene: If a friend is about to drive high, take their keys and help them find a safe way home.
*Report: If you spot an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement immediately.
“It is important for drivers to understand that driving while under the influence of cannabis is impaired driving, and it can result in a DUI arrest,” stated Huntington PD Sgt. Joey Koher, the Drug Evaluation Classification Program Coordinator. “As we approach this non-traditional holiday, I want to remind our community to make responsible choices when consuming cannabis.  Please do not drive impaired and put yourself and others at risk.  Law enforcement officers will be proactively patrolling to keep our roadways safe.  If you choose not to make the right decision, we will make it for you.”