and also by the individual person.
“Drivers who’ve used cocaine
or methamphetamines, for
example, can exhibit
aggressive and reckless
driving, while someone
on marijuana will likely
have slow reaction time, impaired
judgment of time and distance,
and decreased coordination,” she
says. “There are certain kinds of sedatives
that can cause dizziness and drowsiness,
and many will say not to drive while
taking this medication. All of these types
of impairments can lead to vehicle crashes
and severe injuries or death.”
Another point to consider is that
drugs are often dangerously mixed with
alcohol. So what can parents do to enforce
a zero-tolerance policy at home?
engage
J
Behind the Wheel
maskmatters.org
SPRING 2018
28
✪
{
DID YOU KNOW?
}
One in three drivers killed in car accidents tested positive for drugs.
W
hen we think of impaired
or distracted driving
among teens, we often
think about alcohol
or electronic activities
like texting and driving. However, more
than 11 million people age 16 and over
drove under the influence of illicit drugs,
according to the 2016 National Survey
on Drug Use and Health. In addition,
in an article on CNN.com, “…positive
drug tests were more common than the
presence of alcohol among the fatally
injured drivers who were tested in 2015,”
according to a report titled “Drug-
Impaired Driving” by the Governors
Highway Safety Association and the
Foundation for Advancing Alcohol
Responsibility.
What can help teens know not to
drive under the influence of drugs like
marijuana, prescription medication,
and illicit drugs? Experts say parental
involvement is key.
“It is so critical for parents to be in
dialogue with their kids, particularly when
they’re learning to drive and in those
early years while they are still developing
their skills,” says Maria
Wojtczak, owner of
DrivingMBA, a AAA-
approved driving school
with locations in Gilbert
and Scottsdale. “The
best thing to do for your
kids is to be a good role
model; don’t get behind
the wheel if you’re on
certain drugs, or if you’ve
had anything to drink.”
Wojtczak says it’s
important to share
statistics with your kids
and talk with them
about the dangers
of being under the
influence of anything:
drugs, alcohol, electronics—all of which
pose a danger to them and to others on
the road.
“Do a Google search and you can find
a wealth of information on driving while
impaired. Also, use apps like Life 360 to
keep track of them and their driving—
where they are, the speed they’re traveling,
if they’re making aggressive maneuvers,”
she says. “Some parents
think this is too invasive.
I say better to be nosy and
invasive than going to the
morgue and identifying
your child in a body bag.”
Wojtczak stresses that
teens need to understand
that the effects of drugs
differ depending on how
they interact in the brain
DANGERS
OF DRUGGED
DRIVING
By // Michelle Talsma Everson
CONVO
CAR
What things stress you
out? What are some
ways you can minimize
your stress?
*This seems like a simple
question but do you really
know what causes your
child stress?
