The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched the “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different” safety campaign, aimed at combating drunk driving and drug-impaired driving.
The campaign, which partners with the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, began Aug. 15 and runs through the Labor Day holiday weekend, one of the deadliest times on U.S. roads.
“A driver’s judgment and ability to react are both impaired when driving high, but many drivers don’t realize that it’s dangerous and illegal,” Heidi King, NHTSA deputy administrator, said. “Driving either drunk or high is a DUI; impairment is impairment.”
The campaign encourages preplanning and the use of public transportation, a cab or ride-sharing when high or drunk.
State and local law enforcement agencies also will be increasing enforcement during the campaign. Impaired driving is illegal in the United States and its territories.
The campaign will air on television, radio, and online.
In March, NHTSA held a drug-impaired driving summit, hosted by King, that highlighted the agency’s commitment to educating drivers on why they should never drive impaired, drunk, or high.
Last month, NHTSA held the first of several regional meetings on impaired driving.
NHTSA is asking communities for ideas and approaches on how to address drug-impaired driving.