“This is not just the at-fault person,” Cairns said. “We do have several instances we’ve looked into where victims of some of these crashes, whether it be pedestrian or in a vehicle, are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Regardless of if a person is behind the wheel or walking home, drugs and alcohol can reduce reaction times and impact someone’s awareness of what is going on around them.
“You might not be at fault for the actual accident but your reaction times and your ability to potentially avoid that accident is dramatically reduced,” the sergeant explained.
With New Year’s Eve and other winter celebrations coming up, Cairns encouraged people to plan ahead if they are going to drink or use marijuana at parties.
“Get a designated driver. Use your ride share. Have a plan for how you’re going to get home,” he said.
People hosting parties should also make sure their guests have a safe ride before they leave.
Even in a minor traffic crash a driver will face more serious charges if they are impaired. Depending on the level of intoxication, the severity of the crash or a history of impaired driving, a person could go from facing a misdemeanor to felony charges, Cairns said.
The sergeant also discussed marijuana impairment and driving. Though recreational use of marijuana is legal in Ohio, Cairns said people should treat marijuana impairment the same way they treat alcohol impairment.
“Don’t smoke marijuana in the car while you’re driving,” he said. “Don’t drive after using marijuana. Give it time to get it out of your system.”
Similar to alcohol and other drugs, there are tests to determine how long marijuana has been in a person’s system.
Cairns said Ohio has learned from other states that previously legalized marijuana. Officers also can attend training that teaches them signs of impairment for various drugs.
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