AAA POLL: 85 PERCENT OF MARYLAND MOTORISTS SAY

DRIVERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS POSE A

THREAT TO THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY

AAA To Hold Maryland Drugged Driving Summit Today In Conjunction With State’s

Strategic Highway Safety Plan Summit To Discuss Growing Threat To Traffic Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, April 26, 2017) – According to a new AAA survey, a majority of Maryland motorists view people driving after using illegal drugs as big a threat to their personal safety as those driving after using alcohol.  Of the Maryland drivers surveyed, 85 percent said the use of illegal drugs before driving was a “very serious or somewhat serious threat” to their safety, on par with the 85 percent of those who said the same thing about people driving after drinking alcohol.

“Public awareness of the drugged driving issue is critical to finding a solution,” said John B. Townsend II, Manager of Public & Government Affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic. “These results are startling because they show how rapidly the public has grasped the severe threat to their safety posed by drugged driving.  This is especially significant when you consider the number of years it took for the public to fully understand the dangers posed by drinking and driving.”

Law enforcement, prosecutors, legislators, health care professionals, and other traffic safety and community stakeholders will come together to focus on the growing problem, as AAA holds its first ever Maryland Drugged Driving Symposium today, Wednesday, April 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in conjunction with the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan Summit at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights.

“The drugged driving problem brings unique challenges from the roadside to the courtroom, and as AAA is a consistent champion of road safety, we felt it is imperative that we start the public conversation about this issue before it is too late,” said Townsend. “This symposium is an important opportunity to address the challenges, learn about resources and work collaboratively on solutions.  Upon conclusion of the event, we hope all participants will have a better understanding of drug-impaired driving from those who deal with the issue first-hand.”

Presenters at the forum will include:

• Nathan Warren-Kigenyi, Manager, Traffic Safety Research & Analysis, AAA National
• Chris Halsor, Attorney, Understanding Legal Marijuana, LLC.
• Kyle J. Clark, Assistant Director, Institute of Police Technology and Management
• Tom Woodward, Maryland Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Coordinator
• Melissa G. Shear, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Office of the Attorney General-District of Columbia

Additional findings from the phone survey of Maryland licensed drivers taken from April 7-10: 

• Compared to the other 49 states, 50 percent of residents polled believed Maryland has the same number of drug overdoses while
• 30 percent felt Maryland has more overdoses
• 12 percent believed Maryland has fewer overdoses
• If marijuana is legalized for recreational use, 72 percent of surveyed Marylanders said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about the dangers posed by others driving under the influence of drugs.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com