Law enforcement and emergency room doctors are asking the public to put “drugged driving” on their radar.
That's because the problem of driving under the influence of drugs other than alcohol is on the rise.
According to national roadside surveys conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the percentage of drivers with measurable alcohol levels declined by almost 30 percent between 2007 and 2014.
However, during the same time frame, the percentage of drivers who tested positive for at least one other drug rose by 23 percent.
Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency room physician at Scripps Mercy Hospital, said people who take anti-anxiety or pain medications shouldn't drive.
"They inside think that they’re absolutely fine. But they’re not fine for driving," Lev said. "They don’t have the alertness, the coordination, the multi-tasking and the skills necessary to be safe behind the wheel.”
Lev said marijuana is also dangerous because it can impair judgment and delay reaction times.
Reports show 12.6 percent of drivers nationwide had marijuana in their system in 2014.
