Utmost Importance: Not Just No Drinking and Driving, But No Driving While Intoxicated
Posted by HCN on Thursday, June 6, 2024
Almost midway through 2024 most folks in the USA have got the jingle down, 'Don't drink and drive'. Perhaps a next level of understanding is it is not just alcohol that can impair judgement and be a factor in road disasters. It is intoxicants and other elements that could be factors as well.
For the purpose of this post and to be brief, pertinent substances that are on the 'list' and should be emphasized as what not have in your system when driving, include but are not limited to:
There are substances that are common sense not have too much of before driving such as:
In general, other pre-conditions not to be in before getting on the road:
For the purpose of this post and to be brief, pertinent substances that are on the 'list' and should be emphasized as what not have in your system when driving, include but are not limited to:
- Cocaine
- Meth
- Fentanyl
- Opioids and opiates
There are substances that are common sense not have too much of before driving such as:
- Sleeping pills
- Counter opioid substances
- Excessive amounts of cough medicine, especially if alcohol is in it
In general, other pre-conditions not to be in before getting on the road:
- Tiredness
- Drowsiness
- Sleep deprivation
- Up all night saying prayers, long day of fasting, or long day at work,- these may be 'good' things and thus not an intoxicant to be guilty of, but there is still a responsibility that one has, not to endanger the health and welfare of others; it may be better to nap and re-energize after these practices, before engaging in activities that involve interacting with others around whose safety could be affected if even a momentary lapse in judgement occurs
- In on a unity chant or meditation exercise that involves experiences in changes in perception?, on a Native reservation and partook of certain plants like cactus for a ceremony?, -jumping in your car or driving a tour bus, and going full highway speed right after, may not be wisest
Recommended not to use especially prior to driving:
- Illicit narcotics (illegal, soon to be, or should be illegal 'drugs' )
- Marijuana, and other 'plants' or plant-like creation, like cannabis, cactus derivates like mescaline, etc., that could affect consciousness or judgment
- Amphetamines
- Medications that induce drowsiness, anticonvulsants, or intended to reduce seizures/ brain excitement
- Depressants like benzodiazepines
- -Anything that reduces alertness, cognitive functioning, or makes you sleepy
Further reading:
- Monroe County, MI incident mid April 2024, children struck by impaired driver (alcohol ?*)
- Hartford County, CT incident late May 2024, officer struck by impaired driver (narcotics, fentanyl ?*)
- Fayette County, KY 2021 children killed result of wrong way driving, I-75 (alcohol, amphetamines, and other medication/substances ?*)
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving
?* - suspects not guilty until proven so; information is from news stories around the web that indicate mentioned substances are highly probable factors
