An Average of 30 People a Day Die in U.S. from Drugged Driving -- And U.S. Does Nothing

The crashes involve drugs including methamphetamines, cocaine, painkillers and marijuana — meaning at least one driver tested positive for drugs other than alcohol. Yet local, state and federal officials are failing at the most basic levels to confront the carnage, a San Francisco Chronicle investigation found.

While the U.S. waged a moral crusade against drunk driving in the late 1980s and 1990s – one that ultimately saw Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. linked arms with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to promote ignition interlocks – officials at the local, state and federal levels are sponsoring bills to legalize marijuana.

Officially, this seems to be a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" issue. Most drivers who are killed or seriously injured in crashes aren't drug tested at all, so the nationwide count of drugged driving fatalities doesn't count them, the Chronicle notes.

The National Safety Council put forth a list of drugs in 2007 that labs should test for. Two decades later, labs don't routinely test for them because there is no reequirement to do so.

The Chronicle notes that "these breakdowns are happening amid the proliferation of prescription drug abuse, the rise of new and potent synthetic drugs — such as the supremely powerful opioid painkiller fentanyl — and the legalization of cannabis. More Americans say they use marijuana on a daily basis than drink alcohol. Separately, a federal government survey estimated 2.1 million people drove after using cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or methamphetamine in 2024."

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration used to do roadside surveys, but hasn't for several years. The most recent – more than a decade ago, documented a significant increase in drivers testing positive for drugs.

Four years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board called for federal agencies to "strengthen tracking of drug-related crashes and states to enact tougher rules on drug use and driving, and improve police enforcement," the Chronicle reports. "Lawmakers and regulators have not meaningfully advanced many" of the recommended reforms.

There is no federal label requirement that explicitly bans driving while using a prescription or non-prescription drug. NHTSA asked FDA to study whether there is a way to improve the warning about drugged driving. While NHTSA said its recommendations could "prevent accidents and save lives," FDA hasn't published any such studies, the Chronicle said.

Part of the problem, the Chronicle said, is the lack of a legal red line similar to the 0.08% BAC threshold for drunk driving.

A 2025 national survey found about 30% of licensed drivers disagreed that driving within an hour of using marijuana was very or extremely dangerous.

To read the full Chronicle story, click here.