10-31-24 Police Remind Motorists of the Dangers of Drug-Impaired Driving
Hawaiʻi Police Department
Traffic Services Section
Torey Keltner, Program Manager
Phone: (808) 961-2305
Media Release
The Hawai‘i Police Department, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding drivers about the deadly consequences of drug-impaired driving. For a safe Halloween night, arrange for a sober driver to get you home safely. Remember: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
“When someone who is on drugs gets behind the wheel, they threaten the safety and lives of everyone else on the roads, no matter how fit they think they are to drive,” said Torey Keltner, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Program Manager. “Our goal is to ensure that drug-impaired driving and its deadly consequences do not rob anyone of their life and chance to enjoy a safe Halloween night. Our children and community members deserve to celebrate a night free from the risks posed by drug-impaired drivers. If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. We call on everyone to remember and help spread this message, and to plan to get a sober ride home if they are taking any type of drug.”
Violating Hawai‘i’s drug-impaired driving laws can be costly.
Many people believe that being high doesn’t affect driving abilities, but they are wrong. It has been proven that marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
Those who plan to use drugs should not drive. Even over-the-counter and prescription medications can have impairing effects. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots an impaired driver, contact local law enforcement.
Join NHTSA in sharing the lifesaving message, If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving.
