Many Tennessee drivers understand that not only is taking drugs, like cocaine, heroine and marijuana, illegal, but they also affect driving ability. Not as many drivers, however, realize that prescription medication and over-the-counter drugs can negatively affect driving as well. As a result, drugged driving can result in a DUI and/or serious accidents. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, almost 20% of impaired drivers tested positive for opioid drugs. In fact, opioid use can double the chances of getting into a crash due to reported side effects such as diminished judgment, drowsiness and impaired thinking. These are also side effects of other prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepines, which also cause dizziness. 

The two age groups that tend to drive under the influence of drugs more often are teenagers and older adults. Teens have less experience on the road, and they often practice more risky driving behavior, such as speeding. Many older adults take multiple medications, are not able to break them down as fast and may take the incorrect dosage, which leads to intoxicated driving. 

Along with opioids and benzodiazepines, the FDA lists additional prescription and OTC drugs that can negatively affect driving ability. These include: 

• Antidepressants 
• Antiepileptic and antipsychotic drugs 
• Codeine-containing meds 
• Stimulants such as diet and caffeine pills 
• Sleeping pills and muscle relaxants 
• Certain allergy and cold remedies, such as antihistamines 

The FDA warns that the effects of some drugs, such as sleeping pills, can linger into the next morning. Combining any of these meds, or taking in conjunction with alcohol, also intensifies their effects. 

Residents of Tennessee like you deal with risks on the road every day. Some of the biggest risks come in the form of distracted drivers, who are engaging in a behavior that is dangerous in many different ways. 

First, distracted driving is dangerous because it can take your hands off of the wheel. This is true for everything from texting to eating. Even taking your hand from the wheel long enough to change the temperature or adjust your radio station could be enough to cause you to crash. Taking a single hand from the wheel can result in a loss of fine control that could have helped you avoid any incidents. 

Second, it takes your eyes off of the road. When you travel 60 miles per hour, you cross the distance of a football field in 3 seconds. This means that even glancing down at your phone to read a text message can result in you crashing into another vehicle or even drifting into another lane of traffic or off of the road entirely. 

Finally, it can take your mind off of driving. This lowers your reaction times and makes it harder for you to spot danger that you may have otherwise noticed in advance. As with the other two categories, this can therefore increase your chances of getting into a crash that you may have avoided. 

If you are interested in taking a more in-depth look into distracted driving and the related risks, consider viewing our web page on motor vehicle accidents. We closely examine all aspects related to it. 

Vaping injury stories are increasingly common in the news of late. This unnerving issue has many people on edge. Vaping was once seen as a healthier alternative to smoking, but now that is under question. To further confuse the issue, there is a lot of misinformation or half-truths floating around about this concern. It is difficult to know what is accurate about the vaping injuries reported in the Tennessee news.

If you vape, you may wonder if you should be concerned. After all, if you suffer an injury, you will want to hold someone accountable so that other people do not have to go through what you did. However, thus far there is not a lot of conclusive information about these concerns. The Washington Post explains officials are still researching and gathering information about the vape injuries.

An initial warning

The best officials can do is warn you to stop vaping. There is a specific warning against using THC products in vapes. Most of the people suffering from injuries used THC products. Many of these people admitted to using black market products or altering the existing vaping juice to add THC oil.

The confusion

The main confusion is because there are many conflicting reports. Some sources say only people who have used THC vaping have suffered, while others make more general statements and even name specific vaping brands linked to those with injuries. Official reports have not released a lot of information and only provided the general warning to stop vaping.

In addition, there are no clear explanations about the actual medical conditions of the injured people. According to most sources, they have a serious lung-related illness or condition, but further details are not yet forthcoming.

Without more complete knowledge, it is difficult to hold anyone accountable for these vape-related lung injuries. It will take more time and information to get to the bottom of things.

A young Tennessee man killed in a fatal DUI crash on Highway 385 near Rivervale would have turned 25 next month. He left behind a six-year-old daughter and a wife who were not in the car with him when the fatal accident occurred. As reported by WREG Channel 3 News, the alleged cause of the crash was another Tennessee man who was allegedly driving while intoxicated and out on bail for a previous DUI offense. He also fled the scene of the accident. 

A witness saw the driver who caused the accident speeding past at about 100 mph. When officers caught up with him, they smelled alcohol and the driver displayed the typical tell-tale signs of intoxication. He admitted to having caused the crash that killed the young father. Officers detained the driver, who now faces charges for multiple offenses, including vehicular homicide and DUI. 

The news team reporting on the tragic accident obtained documents showing a Collierville court charged the intoxicated driver six weeks earlier for another DUI. His payment of a $750 bond enabled him to get out of jail and return to the road prior to causing the fatal crash. According to data compiled by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the year 2018 saw more than 1,800 vehicle crashes caused by alcohol impairment. The THP also made close to 7,000 arrests for DUI during the same year. Out of the overall 29,186 crashes occurring in Tennessee in 2018, more than one third resulted in injuries or fatalities. 

Whether the cause is driver negligence, such as DUI or distracted driving, involvement in a vehicle accident can result in drivers and passengers — sometimes pedestrians and cyclists — battling serious and debilitating injuries. When catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths result from a driver’s negligence or recklessness, a legal action may help survivors and injured individuals cope with the extremely difficult circumstances.