2022 JULY 4TH DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVING

Hillsboro Police and NHTSA Team Up to Remind Drivers:
If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

Hillsboro, NH — This year, America celebrates 246 years of independence on July 4th. To help keep celebrations safe, New Hampshire Law Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are teaming up to remind drivers about the deadly consequences of drug-impaired driving. If you are under the influence of an impairing drug, and you choose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you run the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else. This Fourth of July holiday, plan ahead for a safe weekend of festivities, including a sober ride. Help us spread this life-saving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

In 2019, 49% of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive. This is why it’s so important for everyone to know: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. It doesn’t matter what term you use: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she should not get behind the wheel. Some people mistakenly believe that marijuana won’t affect their ability to drive safely, but it has been proven that THC can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.

If you’re a designated driver, stick to the plan: don’t use drugs (legally or illegally obtained). For all drivers, your best defense against impaired drivers on the road is your seat belt. Wear it on every trip, and make sure your passengers do, too.

Violating New Hampshire’s drug-impaired driving laws can be costly. $500 fine, 9-month loss of license.

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Stay Safe

Remember these tips as you prepare for the Fourth of July, and spread the message to your friends and family members:

• If you have used an impairing substance such as marijuana, do not drive. Passengers should never ride with an impaired driver. If you think a driver may be impaired, do not get in the car.
• If you’re planning to use drugs, plan ahead for a sober driver to safely drive you to your destination. Like drunk driving, it is essential that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a vehicle. It is never okay to drive while impaired by any substance.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — they’ll thank you later. You might just save a life.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact the Hillsboro Police Department.

Please join us in sharing the lifesaving message, If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.