The rates of crashes due to DUIs and impaired driving in the US have been increasing over the past few years. 2020 saw the highest crashes recorded since 2007.
The state governments and relevant stakeholders have upped the bar on DUI laws. In some states like Utah, the legal BAC limit is 0.05 percent. However, some states are yet to enforce tighter laws on cannabis and alcohol-impaired driving.
Suffice to say, there is a disparity in DUI laws in different American states, where the laws are stringent in some and relaxed in others. For drivers, this can create confusion, especially when traversing different states.
The State Laws Map Is Introduced
That said, the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, in collaboration with Responsibility.org, has developed an effective solution to this problem. Earlier this year, the agency released a real-time database containing the evolving cannabis and impaired driving laws in different states- The State Laws Map.
The easy-to-use online tool comprises an interactive map allowing users to navigate different states to see their cannabis and alcohol-impaired driving laws. Users can select a specific state, from where the map will display a list with all the relevant regulations.
Darrin Grondel, the National Alliance director and vice president of government relations at Responsibilty.org, believes the system will help quickly avail DUI law-related information to all concerned parties.
Before, getting access to DUI laws in different states required tremendous work. Users had to sift through different databases scattered across the internet. But, with the new system, users can access everything with a button.
Dynamic Laws in US States
DUI and cannabis related laws are dynamic. The ever-changing nature of these laws is more pronounced where cannabis is concerned. Currently, cannabis is legalized for recreational use in 19 states and medical use in 37 states.
While testing for a DUI is relatively straightforward using an alcohol breath test, there is no definitive way of verifying motorists under the influence of cannabis while driving.
This is because THC, the main component in marijuana, can be detected in hair for up to 90 days, anywhere from three days to a month in urine, 48 hours in saliva, and 36 hours in blood.
With such inconsistencies, researchers are working around the clock to find a permanent solution. It implies that the laws are bound to change at some point. With the new system, you can view any changes immediately after they are enacted as it is regularly updated.
Jonathan Adkins, the executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, believes that with the new system, advocates for safer driving can keep up with the ever-changing DUI laws across different states.
The Takeaway
Road accidents in the US due to alcohol-impaired driving have risen over the past years. Statistics from the NHTSA show that every day, close to 30 people lose their lives in preventable road accidents due to alcohol-impaired driving.
Following these alarming statistics, various states have enacted laws to curb this social menace. In some states, the rules are strict, while in others, they are relaxed.
This can create confusion, especially for drivers traversing through different states. Hopefully, the new interactive map from the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving and Responsibility.org has made access to the various laws easier with the State Laws Map.
If you have been in an accident caused by impaired driving, finding a trustworthy attorney to help guide you through this emotional time can positively impact your experience. Reach out to a DUI lawyer as soon as possible to help you through the process.
