New Campaign Focuses on Prescription Drugs
New information has emerged that can significantly impact the safety of Louisiana roads. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has launched a new campaign focused on the dangers of prescription drug impairment while driving. This initiative is vital, and assistance is needed in spreading this information to employees.
Campaign Overview
The campaign is designed to educate the public on risks associated with driving under the influence of prescription medications. Many individuals are unaware that even legally prescribed drugs can impair driving abilities, leading to potentially hazardous situations on the road. This campaign emphasizes education and preventive measures and features a new commercial: Your Car is Smart.
The Importance of Awareness
Misuse of prescription drugs is a significant concern. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 52 million people (20% of those aged 12 and older) have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons at least once in their lifetimes. Medications such as pain relievers, sedatives and stimulants can impair cognitive function and reaction time. Driving under the influence of these substances not only endangers the driver but also poses a risk to all road users.
Essential Points to Communicate to Employees
- Understand medications: Employees should consult with healthcare providers about the potential effects of their medications on driving. Awareness of side effects is crucial for safe driving practices. The pill identifier from Drugs.com is a helpful tool.
- Check drug interactions: Encourage employees to use drug interaction checkers when taking multiple prescriptions to identify potential impairments caused by drug combinations.
- Adhere to prescriptions: Taking medications exactly as prescribed is essential. Misuse, including incorrect dose, can result in impaired driving abilities.
- Heed warning labels: Many prescription bottles feature warning labels about drowsiness or operating heavy machinery. It is essential for employees to recognize that this includes driving.
- Consider alternative transportation: If a medication impairs an individual’s ability to drive, alternative transportation options such as carpooling, public transit or ride-sharing services should be considered.
Enhancing road safety requires collective effort. Raising awareness and encouraging safe driving practices can reduce crash incidents and save lives. Do your part to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely.
Stay Safe This Labor Day
As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, we’re teaming with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to amplify its impaired driving campaign. We invite you to participate in this effort to raise awareness of impairment safety risks and help keep your employees and their family members safe.
Traditionally, Labor Day weekend is a time for backyard barbecues, football tailgate parties and end-of-summer festivals.
- The message to spread: Have fun, be safe
- The focus: Safety for all road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians
- Here’s why: Crashes cost money, and impaired-driving crashes tend to spike on long holiday weekends; employers absorb the brunt of crash costs, whether they occur on or off the job, covering everything from liability exposure to payouts for medical expenses and property damage
According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, impaired driving continues to be a significant issue in Louisiana. In 2021, 36% of all traffic deaths in Louisiana involved a driver who had been drinking. Alcohol is not the only contributing factor in impaired-driving crashes. Drugs, even many legal drugs like over-the-counter medications, can produce the same types of impairment:
- Reduced ability to concentrate and think clearly
- Decreased coordination and loss of sensory perception
- Slowed reaction times
Research from the National Library of Medicine indicates drivers who are mentally or physically fatigued are more likely to take risks, and drivers who are over-stressed can make poor decisions. How can you work to create positive change? Use free resources from NHTSA to launch a safety awareness campaign on your social media accounts, or get fact sheets to build your own workplace safety talks:
Tap into our free resources:
- Driver safety games: Impairment Jeopardy
- Driver behavior series videos: Impairment Safety
- Multi-substance use training for employees (free): Learn about risks associated with multi-substance use and how to look up the effects of combining drugs in this 12-minute course
Let’s work together to plan for safety during the long Labor Day weekend.
Announcements
Our Driving Concern Program Manager Tracy LeMaire has had the privilege of speaking at four Louisiana Rotary Clubs about the program and its offerings, which encourage employer traffic safety initiatives. She is pictured at the Mandeville Rotary Club on July 11.
Interested in having Tracy speak at your next meeting? Contact her at [email protected].