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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — From Aug. 13 through Sept. 1, the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be working alongside local law enforcement for the “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI.” high-visibility enforcement campaign. The goal is to help prevent drug-impaired driving, to save lives and to prevent serious injury. The GHSP is urging drivers to refrain from driving impaired.
“Ultimately, if you are impaired by any substance, you should not be behind the wheel,” said Jack McNeely, director of the GHSP. “We want everyone to enjoy the end of summer and the Labor Day holiday, but our absolute priority is keeping people safe. Breaking West Virginia’s drug-impaired driving laws carries heavy consequences, from devastating financial costs to the tragic loss of life.”
Many people believe 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. In 2024, more than 30% of DUI arrests in West Virginia involved drivers impaired by drugs. In two GHSP regions, that percentage increases to 44%.
“Our priority is to keep everyone safe on the roadways and to ensure everyone makes it to their destinations safely,” stated West Virginia State Police Traffic Records Director Lieutenant Eric McClung. “Impaired driving enforcement is a priority. Not everyone will make the right decision to drive sober, so our goal is to stop impaired drivers before they cause irreparable harm.”
Anyone planning to use impairing substances should never get behind the wheel. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, which can affect your driving just as much as illicit drugs. Before you start consuming anything, make sure to line up a designated driver, call a taxi or use a rideshare service to ensure a safe trip home. If anyone spots an impaired driver, contact local law enforcement.
For more information on impaired driving, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s drug-impaired driving page.
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.
