Alabama law enforcement prioritizing impaired driving and opioids

March 20 marked the first official day of spring, meaning vacation and spring break travel plans are on the rise. While the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will continue to focus on dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, following too closely and distracted driving, a top priority this year is impaired driving and the dangers of opioids.

Director of ALEA's Department of Public Safety, Col. Jon Archer, said, “Driving while impaired by any substance, legal or illegal, puts all motorists on Alabama roadways at risk. While spring break, prom and other seasonal activities are around the corner, we encourage parents to take this opportunity to speak directly to their children about the dangers of opioids at parties or other social gatherings and have a real conversation about the dangers of driving while impaired. To the students, we ask that you please ‘think smart before you start this spring break’ and speak up if you see a friend or loved one preparing to drive impaired.”

Many substances can impair driving, including alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or any potentially impairing drug–prescribed or over the counter. Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Cocaine and methamphetamine can lead to aggressive and reckless driving behaviors. Using two or more drugs at the same time, including alcohol, can amplify the impairing effects of each drug a person has consumed. Some prescription and even over-the-counter medicines can cause extreme drowsiness or dizziness and have other side effects that diminish an individual’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Citizens should read and follow all warning labels before driving and note that warnings against “operating heavy machinery” include driving a vehicle.

“The opioid crisis is a growing issue across the nation, and it affects our communities, our schools and our loved ones," said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. "We will continue to viciously combat the opioid epidemic through all areas of law enforcement to preserve public safety. This includes targeted enforcement initiatives reducing both drug trafficking as well as impaired driving, in conjunction with educational campaigns and community outreach programs.”

Troopers along with Special Agents within ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) regularly partner with local schools and other organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) and the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage and Control (ABC) Board to conduct educational events across the state including the Fatal Vision Program, Operation Save Teens and ABC’s Underage, Under Arrest Program. All three programs provide insight to the dangers of driving while impaired and the consequences of consuming alcohol and drugs. SBI utilizes goggles within its Fatal Vision program which simulate the effects of two different types of impairment, one which simulates the impairment of drugs and the other alcohol. Since the beginning of the current fiscal year, ALEA Special Agents and Troopers have conducted 107 of these community outreach events.