Driving high on marijuana is dangerous and illegal
AURORA, Ill., (August 19, 2020) – In an effort to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by marijuana impaired driving AAA – The Auto Club Group is providing more than $100,000 in grants to assist public health, safety and law enforcement partners in addressing this issue.
As the nation’s foremost proponent of traffic safety, AAA has long been committed to reducing the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving. Recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois on January 1, 2020 and since the onset of the pandemic, marijuana sales in Illinois have steadily increased.
“Marijuana use can inhibit concentration, slow reaction times and cloud judgment.” said Nick Jarmusz, Director of Public Affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “These grants will help increase awareness of this danger and identify impaired drivers on the road.”
A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that, compared to alcohol, drivers were less likely to view driving within an hour of using marijuana as dangerous and less likely to think that a driver who did so would be caught by police.
The grant recipients include over 40 law enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations in an effort to educate, assist and reduce the number of crashes related to driving under the influence of marijuana. These grants included monies for:
Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement
ARIDE teaches officers how to identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both, in order to reduce the number of impaired driving incidents as well as crashes which result in serious injuries and fatalities.
ToxOptix X3
This is a tool for law enforcement and is a pen containing a UV lamp, medical penlight and a timing system in one device for standardized field sobriety testing. It’s also designed for other important investigative needs such as validating driver licenses or identifying drug residue.
Fatal Vision Marijuana Goggles
These goggles model the effects of recreational marijuana so you can experience the impact of what it’s like to be under the influence. Marijuana affects the brain differently than alcohol, and the goggles simulate marijuana’s true effects — they diminish the participant’s capacity to make quick, accurate decisions, and that causes a driver to miss important external cues that could lead to a crash. The kits will be brought to high schools and community events as a way to educate people about the effects marijuana impaired driving (this will be done when possible due to COVID-19 restrictions).
“We appreciate the grant from AAA supporting our roadway safety efforts,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Substance-impaired driving is an issue of traffic-safety concern nationwide and right here in Illinois. The Field Vision Goggle kits helps show drivers the dangers of getting behind the wheel after using cannabis.”
Additionally, monies for a K9 ballistic vest were given to keep a law enforcement canine safe from harm while in the line of duty.
Full list of grant recipients:
Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists Organization
Chicago Police Memorial Foundation
Child Care Resource & Referral Network/Illinois Department of Transportation
DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
Illinois State Police
Illinois Liquor Control Commission
DuPage County Sheriff’s Office
Kane County Sheriff’s Office
Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement – Chicago Metropolitan Chapter
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Rush Copley Hospital
ThinkFirst Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Addison Police Department
Arlington Heights Police Department
Aurora Police Department
Bloomington Police Department
Campton Hills Police Department
Chatham Police Department
Chenoa Police Department
Crystal Lake Police Department
Deerfield Police Department
Elgin Police Department
Evanston Police Department
Glen Ellyn Police Department
Gurnee Police Department
Lake Zurich Police Department
Lincolnwood Police Department
Lockport Police Department
Maywood Police Department
Mendota Police Department
Minooka Police Department
Moline Police Department
Naperville Police Department
Niles Police Department
Oswego Police Department
Riverside Police Department
Rockford Police Department
Rockton Police Department
Roscoe Police Department
Tinley Park Police Department
Wheaton Police Department
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