From the Baxter County Sherriff’s Office:
The “National 420 Mobilization” will take place from April 18th through April 20th, with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office participating along with other local law enforcement agencies. During this period, extra deputies will be working with an intense focus on traffic enforcement and the detection and apprehension of impaired drivers.
No matter the time or day, driving under the influence of marijuana, or any other drug, is an illegal and life-threatening behavior. Ahead of marijuana culture’s high holiday, 420, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges individuals to plan to drive fully sober or to get a sober ride home. Drivers are responsible for keeping themselves and other road users safe at all times, and that includes on 420. NHTSA reminds all drivers: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
In past years, many drivers killed in crashes who were tested for drugs had positive results. In 2019, specifically, 49% of these drivers tested positive for drugs. Downplaying the impairing effects that marijuana has on one’s driving abilities only puts the impaired driver and other road users at higher risk of a fatal crash. Marijuana and other drugs affect everyone’s driving abilities. It has been proven that marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane, all unsafe driving behavior that can cause serious injuries or death in a crash. This is why it is important to spread this lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
