April 14, 2023

Marijuana laws are changing constantly across the country. One thing that hasn’t changed is the legalities behind impaired driving. Thursday, April 20, 2023, marks the unofficial marijuana “holiday,” and there will likely be an increase in marijuana use. 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 Arkansas law enforcement to spread the message that drug-impaired driving is dangerous and illegal. NHTSA wants to remind all drivers: Drive High, Get a DWI.

“High, stoned, or wasted: It doesn’t matter what term you use. If you are impaired, do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle,” said Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “We are asking our community members to use good judgement, obey the law, and make safe choices when driving.”

In 2019, 49% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it’s so important for people to get the message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. 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 marijuana on 4/20 (or any day) should not drive. If you find yourself drug-impaired, don’t drive your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver or call for a ride that can safely take you home or to your next stop. Remind your friends to never get in the vehicle with an impaired driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive while high, advise them not to drive and help them get to their destination safely — they’ll thank you later.

By working together, we can save lives and help keep America’s roadways safe. Please join NHTSA in sharing the lifesaving message, Drive High, Get a DWI.

For more information on impaired driving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136, and go to https://www.tzdarkansas.org/ to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.